Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stormed out of the White House on Friday afternoon, leaving behind a collapsed minerals deal and a war still raging in Ukraine.
What was supposed to be a high-stakes negotiation with President Donald Trump turned into an explosive clash in the Oval Office, ending with Zelenskyy walking out and Trump making it clear that peace talks were off the table for now.
Reporters swarmed outside, shouting questions at Zelenskyy, asking whether his discussions with Trump meant the end of any potential deal to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. He ignored them, got into his car, and disappeared into Washington, D.C. Moments later, the White House abruptly canceled a scheduled joint press conference, cutting off any formal statement from both leaders.
Trump and Zelenskyy argue over rare earths and war
Inside the Oval Office, the meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy had started with discussions about a potential U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal, one that would give America access to Ukraine’s rare earths—critical for technology, defense, and the global economy. But the conversation quickly took a hostile turn.
According to sources inside the room, Trump pressed Zelenskyy to make a deal. “You either make a deal or we’re out,” Trump told him. “You’re gambling with World War III.”
The meeting, which included Vice President JD Vance, soon spiraled into a confrontation, with both leaders refusing to back down. Trump, who had promised a quick end to the Russia-Ukraine war during his campaign, accused Zelenskyy of using U.S. involvement as a bargaining chip.
“It’s amazing what comes out through emotion,” Trump later posted on Truth Social. “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. I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE.”
After Zelenskyy walked out, Reuters confirmed that he had not signed the minerals deal, leaving its fate uncertain. A White House official told the news agency that the deal was still possible, but it was now up to the Ukrainians to come back to the table when they were ready.
Markets react as geopolitical tensions rise
The fallout from the Oval Office fight wasn’t just political—it sent ripples through the stock market. Investors had been hoping that a U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal could signal stability, but instead, the opposite happened.
The S&P 500 barely moved, closing 0.1% up, but only after dropping from an earlier high of 0.7%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average managed a 50-point gain, down sharply from its near 300-point rise earlier in the day. The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.1%.
The Cboe Volatility Index, which tracks fear levels on Wall Street, jumped 4.8% to 22.15, its highest point since January 27. Investors watching the confrontation play out in real-time saw it as a sign that geopolitical risks were increasing, not decreasing.
“I’m disturbed by what I just saw,” said Jim Lebenthal of Cerity Partners on CNBC’s ‘Halftime Report’. “If the policies in foreign affairs are now shifting toward empowering Russia and Vladimir Putin, I don’t think that’s good for the stock market or the global economy.”
Despite the uncertainty, Trump made it clear he had no regrets about how the meeting ended.
“We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today,” he posted on Truth Social. “Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure.”
In a final statement, Trump doubled down, saying that Zelenskyy had “disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office” and that he was welcome to return only when he was ready for peace.
“He can come back when he is ready for peace,” Trump wrote.
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This articles is written by : Nermeen Nabil Khear Abdelmalak
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