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Here’s what prompted fiery Trump, Zelenskyy Oval Office clash

March 1, 2025 | | Print Article

There was more to Friday’s Oval Office dustup than the disrespect displayed by the guest, and a report revealed it had everything to do with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Extensive efforts at negotiation appeared to blow up in moments and ended with the foreign dignitary being booted out of the White House until he was ready to get serious about seeking peace for his nation. While some attempted to fault President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance for reminding Zelenskyy about his lack of leverage, a report from Fox News Digital suggested the American leaders were already heated over a seemingly rogue move from their guest.

After a meet and greet with some of his biggest backers from the U.S. Senate, the Ukrainian official arrived at the White House seeking a change in the previously agreed upon mineral extraction deal that would include a security agreement for his nation.

“Zelenskyy had warned repeatedly ahead of this trip to Washington, D.C., that, in order to reach a mineral agreement, Kyiv needed these security assurances,” reported Fox News Digital. “Even so, he angered Trump and Vance by rejecting the deal, the source said.”

A Ukrainian defense adviser contended to the outlet, “We cannot just sign an…agreement without any substantial guarantees.”

“It’s not going to work. It’s just going to reward the aggressor,” the adviser added.

Zelenskyy’s appearance at the White House had begun with Trump commenting about the infamous casual attire of the Ukrainian leader, who’d ceased wearing suits at the onset of the war in Feb. 2022.

“He is all dressed up today,” the president said after shaking hands with his guest, a stark contrast to the Ukrainian’s departure where he was reportedly asked to leave by Secretary of State Marco Rubio after his disrespectful behavior was called out by Trump and Vance during the Oval Office meeting.

Prior to the viral exchanges at the White House, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had contended the deal had already been approved by Ukrainian officials on Wednesday.

“I went to Kyiv two weeks ago and met with President Zelenskyy,” he explained to Fox Business host Larry Kudlow. “Since then, we have struck a deal. Their governing council approved the deal last night. So I have an agreement with their economics minister. So the deal is done. President Zelenskyy is coming here to sign the deal tomorrow.”

“So there is no more negotiation. There is nothing else. I’m sure President Zelenskyy and President Trump will have a wide-ranging discussion. But as far as the deal, it is complete, it is on paper and the Ukrainian government has approved it. It is just awaiting the signature of the two heads of state tomorrow,” the secretary had remarked.

Zelenskyy’s behavior, putting the negotiations toward peace at risk, hadn’t gone unnoticed by his own countrymen as Ukrainian parliament member Oleksandr Dubinskyi had called for an emergency session of parliament proposing impeachment proceedings against his president.

“I appeal to all Members of the Ukrainian Parliament: stop wasting time, stop waiting! Zelensky is bankrupt. Zelensky is not Ukraine!” Dubinskyi asserted in a statement on X. “It is time to put him on trial. If he cannot offer a real way out of the crisis, then it is up to us to make fateful decisions.”

Maintaining unprecedented transparency at the White House, that had made the American people privy to the interaction in real time Friday, the administration’s rapid response account on X made certain to post the entirety of the more than 45 minute meeting online showing that it wasn’t until the end that Trump and Vance decided Zelenskyy’s behavior could no longer go unaddressed.

Kevin Haggerty
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