Now we all have to wonder whether this meeting was such a good idea after all. Reports indicate that President Donald Trump had soured on meeting with Zelensky – maybe appropriately so given the tension and the likelihood of making the whole situation worse, but it was after meeting with French Manuel Macron that Trump changed his mind and decided to go ahead and meet with the Ukrainian president today, Friday, February 28th. And thus it was that Trump and Vice President JD Vance found themselves speaking to Zelensky as the guy getting pressure from all sides to end the war with Russia… Which is a bit tough to do with Russian troops inside his borders. Still, they met, as Grok helpfully gives us the overview:
In short, Trump wavered on the meeting due to frustration but went ahead likely due to pressure from allies like Macron and the deal’s economic allure. The meeting itself, however, was a fiasco, marked by mutual recriminations and no tangible outcome, leaving U.S.-Ukraine relations at a low point as of February 28, 2025.
It is not like the issues were a secret. As everyone knows, Donald Trump loves his relationship with Vladimir Putin and had already declared his intention of working with Russia going forward. Except Russia is the country that invaded its neighbor – in Europe (Always trouble) without a real great excuse as to why he was there. People have little trouble understanding why Zelensky is fairly upset about the pressure.
The U.S. has certainly risen to the occasion in supplying Ukraine with money and arms (Indeed, it is very likely that we don’t know the half of it) and as Trump took over he sought some sort of guarantee on that money. Ukraine is both the breadbasket of the world – but, we don’t need bread, and also a mineral bastion. Yes, the minerals are attractive and it’s conceivable that a reasonable deal might’ve helped everyone. Consensus is that didn’t happen as Trump pounded on Zelensky to take what was offered, which was selling off a lot of Ukraine’s future, both financially and elements of its sovereignty. It also didn’t escape notice that no one was asking Putin to put up some damage money to rebuild parts of Ukraine.
Back to Grok on how the mineral discussion went during the meeting. Hint – not really well.
Deal Stalled: The anticipated signing of the minerals deal didn’t happen, leaving its status uncertain. Trump had called it “fair” at the meeting’s outset, but the blow-up derailed any progress, underscoring the rift.
One thing we know about Zelensky, the guy isn’t a pushover and didn’t come to get rolled. Thus is sounds like he came into the discussions with some real problems he wanted put on the table. From a report by the Associated Press:
Zelenskyy told Trump that promises of peace from Vladimir Putin can’t be trusted, noting the Russian leader’s history of broken promises. Trump said Putin hasn’t broken agreements with him.
To the extent we agree for the purposes of this discussion that Trump was 100% truthful in his statement about relying on Putin, it is likely that Zelensky would respond with something to the effect that he cannot park four aircraft carriers 40 miles off the Russian coast and cease pretty well all trade into and out of Russia. The U.S. can. That’ll often impact who answers to who.
“You’ve got to be more thankful,” Trump told Zelenskyy. He said the Ukrainian leader is “gambling with World War III.”
The Guy Who Started the WAR is not at the meeting!! How does this even happen with a straight face? It is a wonder that they got another minute into meeting. Of course, Zelensky could easily waive it off with “Oh, I’m very thankful for American support. The only issue is if Putin would just GTFO we would avoid WWIII and the Russian-Ukrainian war and everybody back to their corners.” He probably said something along those lines but back to the AP:
Trump chided Zelenskyy after Vice President JD Vance said Zelenskyy was being disrespectful for debating Trump in the Oval Office in front of the American media. “Have you said ‘thank you’ once?” Vance asked Zelenskyy.
Well, yes. He did give a speech before a joint session of Congress a couple years back and damn sure made a point of thanking the U.S. for our support. It doesn’t exactly sound like specifics were the issue, though. This was inevitably a clash of personalities and priorities. It is very obvious that the Trump administration has little use for Ukraine and wants to get on partnering with Russia over deals, maybe petroleum, maybe whatever.
It does, however, sound like the AP is “sane washing” this a bit because Grok doesn’t feel so constrained:
Reports from NPR, CNN, The Guardian, and others describe a “contentious” and “explosive” exchange. Vance chimed in, alleging Zelensky had been disrespectful and referencing his supposed campaigning against Trump in Pennsylvania during the election. Zelensky pushed back, defending Ukraine’s position and clashing over Russia’s role and the lack of security guarantees in the minerals deal.
Right. No one in that room was going to get rolled. And everyone knew that going in. So now the situation is now all fkt up and worse than before.
It seems all too obvious that this situation isn’t going to get solved by pounding on Zelensky. There is a place for the U.S. to force all parties to get together and end things – we’ve done it time and time again. Trump could invite Putin and Zelensky (And Macron?) to Camp David and then just say, “No one’s leaving until this is over.” Always an option. But given that didn’t happen, this was just near inevitable.
The war goes on. Why? Ask Putin. This likely isn’t going to end until that guy answers some questions.
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that’s how our elected gangsters work. strong arm GB and Ukraine. These guys work for Putin.
“…and as Trump took over he sought some sort of guarantee on that money.”
I call BS. Did FDR set conditions on Lend Lease? Did he tell DeGaulle how much it would cost him for D Day and to liberate Paris in 1944-5?
These traitorous crooks are monsters.
He lies and lies. He keeps saying the US gave Ukraine $350 billion, ‘more than Europe’ he says, when it’s only given $119 billion, and Europe has given $149 billion. And the money ‘given’ has gone into the American armaments industries and into saving surplus military gear from being scrapped. What was going to happen to those dozens of 1970s Bradley armored vehicles if they hadn’t gone to Ukraine?
He says the Europeans have only loaned money not gifted it.
Another lie.
It’s never the art of the deal, it’s always the grift and the steal.
If it looks like a crook, and it walks like a crook and it bullies like a crook, it’s probably a crook.
While i share the sentiment, it is true that more often than not, these deals are set up as to be paid back eventually. To be sure, loans can be forgiven in the future. But money like this is rarely handed over as a mere gift.
It is still a good investment even as a gift. But we’re not trying to hand the nation over to Putin.
What now? Do we just wait for Trump to step aside so Putin can become our next leader?
They’re going to cut off Starlink.
I big TY to President Zelensky for keeping his cool under assault by these two schoolyard bullies. I would have punched both of them in the face. What utter assholes these two are!