Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with US President Donald Trump at the White House today. During their discussions, they addressed a potential minerals deal for the United States as part of ongoing negotiations for a possible truce in the prolonged war in Ukraine.

The meeting took place against a backdrop of rising tensions after President Trump previously referred to the Ukrainian President as a "dictator" and accused him of "starting the war" with Russia. However, a day before the meeting, Trump retracted his statement, asking, "did I really say that?" and praised Zelensky for his bravery.

As the discussions began, President Zelensky urged Trump that in any peace talks, "there should be no compromises with a killer on our territory," clearly referencing Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, Trump firmly stated that "Ukraine will have to make compromises in a truce with Russia." Before the talks, Zelensky expressed optimism, saying, "I think President Trump is on our side," and emphasised to the U.S. President that American support in protecting Ukraine from Russian threats was "absolutely crucial" for maintaining peace. Trump, on his part, stated that "a truce with Russia is fairly close" and described the agreement granting U.S. access to Ukraine’s natural resources as "very fair."

The signing of a resources agreement will grant the United States access to rare-earth and other critical minerals as part of a broader effort to support Ukraine’s recovery once a truce is reached in the ongoing war with Russia.

The primary focus of today’s meeting is securing this mineralsdeal for the U.S. in exchange for Washington’s commitment to ensuring Ukraine’s security against Russian threats. This agreement is crucial as it lays the groundwork for future discussions to negotiate a peace settlement in the war, which has lasted more than three years.

The U.S., which bears the largest share of NATO’s responsibility for maintaining security across Europe, has urged other stakeholders to increase their military and financial contributions significantly. Donald Trump even warned that he may reconsider America’s security commitments to Europe if other nations do not support them.

President Trump has previously stated that he sees no advantage for the U.S. in remaining involved in Ukraine, arguing that "Europe has a guarantee on what it has spent on Ukraine, but the US does not."

In light of this, European leaders, with President Zelensky's support, proposed a minerals deal between Ukraine and Washington. The idea is to provide the U.S. with a means of recovering its expenditures on Ukraine, both in terms of security assistance and post-war reconstruction efforts.

European leaders believe such an agreement would ensure continued U.S. involvement in Ukraine, securing Kyiv’s long-term safety.

Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., where he represented the European Union. The discussions mainly centred on negotiating a peace deal for the Ukraine war. Following the meeting, Macron outlined the steps toward achieving a ceasefire.

"For me, the sequence of the ceasefire agreement should be as follows - First, there should be a negotiation between the US and Russia and then the US and Ukraine. President Trump has announced today that he is willing to have a short-term meeting with Ukraine's President Zelensky - this is super important," President Macron declared.

"A truce could actually happen in the weeks to come," he stated and continued  "Truce has to be achieved on land, in the air, and at sea, and infrastructure (installed in Ukraine) - and Russia must respect it. If it doesn't, it will be clear that Moscow is not serious about a peace deal" and the sovereignty of Ukraine.

"During this period of time - when the truce is in place, we negotiate - on security guarantees (by Moscow), on land and territories (to reclaim or surrender), and it will be the responsibility of the Ukrainian President (to safeguard Kyiv's interest)," President Macron stated.

He stated that "for the United States," Washington "will secure a deal on rare earth and other critical minerals." Mr Macron assured that France and the rest of Europe would have no objections to this, emphasising that such an agreement "is important, because this would be the best way to guarantee that the US is also committed" and does not withdraw support for Ukraine’s security and sovereignty.

He further explained that a peace deal would ultimately be achieved with all parties invested in upholding Ukraine’s sovereignty through these strategic moves.

Zelensky and Trump's meeting started on a good note, initially exchanging pleasantries, but the discussion quickly escalated into a heated argument in front of the global media. Reports indicate that the Ukrainian delegation was asked to leave the White House, and the formal lunch with the President remained untouched.

This was the first meeting between the two leaders since Trump returned to office in January. The conversation began with handshakes and smiles but took a tense turn when US Vice President JD Vance emphasised the importance of diplomacy in resolving the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which started in 2022 after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion.

"For four years, the United States of America had a president who stood up at press conferences and talked tough about Vladimir Putin, and then Putin invaded Ukraine and destroyed a significant chunk of the country. The path to peace and the path to prosperity is, maybe, engaging in diplomacy," Vance said, taking a dig at former President Joe Biden.

"We tried the pathway of Joe Biden, of thumping our chest and pretending that the president of the United States' words mattered more than the president of the United States' actions. What makes America a good country is America engaging in diplomacy. That's what President Trump is doing," he added in response to a reporter's question.

In response, Zelensky expressed he could ask Vance a question.

"Sure. Yeah," Vance replied.

"Okay. So he (Vladimir Putin) occupied it, our parts, big parts of Ukraine, parts of east and Crimea. So, he occupied it in 2014. During a lot of years - I'm not speaking about just Biden, but those times was (Barack) Obama, then President Trump, then President Biden, now President Trump and God bless, now, President Trump will stop him. But during 2014, nobody stopped him. He just occupied and took. He killed people,"  Zelensky said as he referred to Crimea’s annexation.

"Yes, but from 2014 till 2022, the situation was the same. People have been dying on the contact line. Nobody stopped him. You know that we had conversations with him, a lot of conversations.... And we signed a deal with him. (French President Emmanuel) Macron and (former German Chancellor Angela) Merkel signed a ceasefire. All of them told me that he will never go... But after that, he broke the ceasefire, he killed our people, and he didn't exchange prisoners. We signed the exchange of prisoners. But he didn't do it. What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about? What do you mean?" said Zelensky.

The US Vice President replied, "I'm talking about the kind of diplomacy that's going to end the destruction of your country."

As Zelensky began to respond, saying, "Yes, but if you..." Vance cut him off mid-sentence.

"Mr President, with respect, I think it's disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media. Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the frontlines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the president," Vance stated.

As the heated exchange persisted, Zelensky questioned Vance, asking if he had "ever been" to Ukraine to "see the problems" firsthand.

In response, Vance replied, "I've actually watched and seen the stories, and I know what happens is you bring people on a propaganda tour, Mr President."

"Do you disagree that you've had problems with bringing people in your military, and do you think that it's respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?" he continued.

In response, Zelensky remarked that "everybody has problems" during wartime, including the United States.

"You have nice solutions and don't feel (it) now, but you will feel it in the future," he said, which provoked a reaction from Trump.

"You don't know that. Don't tell us what we're going to feel. We're trying to solve a problem. Don't tell us what we're going to feel," Trump replied back. 

"I am not telling you, I am answering...," Zelensky defended.

Trump then raised his voice, telling Zelensky, "You're in no position to dictate what we're going to feel. We're going to feel very good and very strong."

As Zelensky attempted to interrupt, Trump continued, "You right now are not in a very good position. You've allowed yourself to be in a very bad position."

He then accused Zelensky of taking dangerous risks, saying, "You're gambling with the lives of millions of people, you're gambling with World War III, and what you're doing is very disrespectful to this country."

At that point, Vance turned to Zelensky and asked if he had said "thank you even once."

When asked how often he had expressed gratitude, Zelensky replied, "A lot of times."

Vance then pressed further, asking, "No, in this meeting, this entire meeting? Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who's trying to save your country."

Zelensky responded, "Yes, you think that if you will speak very loudly about the war..." but was interrupted again by Trump.

"He's not speaking loud. Your country is in big trouble. No, no, you've done a lot of talking. Your country is in big trouble," Trump voiced. "You're not winning this. You have a damn good chance of coming out OK, because of us," he continued saying.

Trump told Zelensky that without US military aid, the war in Ukraine would have ended within two weeks.

"I heard it from Putin in three days," Zelensky answered.

"It's going to be a very hard thing to do business like this," Trump stated.

"You're buried there. Your people are dying. You're running low on soldiers. No, listen... And then you tell us, 'I don't want a cease-fire. I don't want a cease-fire. I want to go, and I want this," he continued.

During the meeting, Trump criticised Zelensky, saying, "You're not acting at all thankful. And that's not a nice thing. I'll be honest, that's not a nice thing." He then suggested ending the discussion, adding, "All right, I think we've seen enough. What do you think? This is going to be great television; I will say that." The meeting lasted over 40 minutes before Trump wrapped it up.

Following their argument, Trump took to social media to remark that Volodymyr Zelensky "can come back when he is ready for peace."

“We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. It's amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations," he penned on X.

"I don't want advantage; I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace," Trump further wrote.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later urged Zelensky to apologise for his confrontation with Trump.

Zelensky should "apologise for wasting our time for a meeting that was going to end the way it did," Rubio told CNN.

However, Volodymyr Zelensky refused to apologise for the dispute with Donald Trump.

"I'm not sure that we did something bad," he told Fox News after the heated exchange with the U.S. President and his deputy.

The 47-year-old leader admitted that he wished the argument had not occurred in front of journalists.

Despite the clash, he hoped that U.S.-Ukrainian relations could still be mended.

US-Ukrainian ties are about "more than two presidents," he stated, emphasising that Ukraine urgently needs Washington's support in its fight against Russia.