**Trump and Zelensky Clash at White House Meeting**
U.S. President Donald Trump said on February 28 that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “is not ready for peace.” This came after a heated meeting between the two leaders at the White House.
During the meeting, which lasted around 45 minutes, Trump and Zelensky disagreed over the terms of a potential peace deal with Russia. The dispute started when Zelensky responded to U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s assertion that Ukraine must accept U.S.-proposed peace terms.
**Zelensky “Not Ready for Peace”**
Trump interrupted Zelensky, saying “You’ve done a lot of talking.” Zelensky pushed back, saying “From the start of the war, we were alone.” Trump countered, saying “If you didn’t have our military equipment, this war would have been over in two weeks.”
**Tense Negotiations**
The meeting was preceded by weeks of tense negotiations between Ukraine and the U.S. over a natural resources deal. Ukraine rejected the initial two draft proposals, calling them one-sided obligations for Ukraine without any security commitments on Washington’s side.
**Trump’s Reaction**
After the meeting, Trump posted on Truth Social that Zelensky “disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office.” He added that Zelensky can come back when he is ready for peace. Trump also claimed that Zelensky was not ready for peace if America is involved because he believed U.S. support gave him an advantage in negotiations.
**Zelensky Leaves White House**
After the meeting, Zelensky left the White House, according to Reuters. The long-debated agreement establishes a fund to which Ukraine will contribute 50% of proceeds from the future monetization of state-owned mineral resources.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com
