What started as a diplomatic meeting in a White House room full of reporters Friday ended in a tense argument between President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The original peace talks involved the U.S. getting future rare-earth minerals from Ukraine as part of a Russia-Ukraine peace deal, as repayment for the U.S. helping defend Ukraine for three years.
Those talks devolved into shouting, with Trump ending the argument while delivering sharp rebukes to Zelenskyy. He issued a later statement saying the peace deal is not going forward until Zelenskyy “is ready for peace.”
Wyoming’s all-Republican congressional delegation voiced support for Trump’s position in Friday statements to Cowboy State Daily.
“President Zelenskyy embarrassed himself and his country on the world stage,” said Rep. Harriet Hageman. “President Trump and Vice President Vance boldly stood up for our America First principles and delivered on the promises they made to the American people.”
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso said Trump and the American people want to see the war end quickly, and that Trump is Ukraine’s best hope for negotiating meaningful and lasting peace with Russia.
Zelenskyy’s behavior Friday “set back efforts to secure peace for his nation,” said Barrasso. “President Zelenskyy owes a tremendous amount of thanks to President Trump, Vice President Vance, and the American people.”
Sen. Cynthia Lummis in particular agreed with a Trump quote in which he said he’s not aligned with Putin, or anybody except “the United States of America and the good of the world.”
“It’s nice to have a President who puts America First,” wrote Lummis in her statement.
Where It Fell Apart
Friday’s diplomacy breakdown started when a reporter told Trump that many Polish residents believe he aligns himself too much with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“If I don’t align with both of them we don’t have a deal,” said Trump, referencing Ukraine and Russia.
He said he’s working toward diplomacy, and he’s aligned with the United States and the good of the world.
President Joe Biden used to have press conferences where he’d “talk tough” about Putin, Vance interjected, then Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Zelenskyy was visibly uncomfortable throughout most of the discussion, especially when Trump indicated Ukraine would have to make compromises. He asked Vance why American presidents — including Trump — did not stop earlier power grabs and incursions by Putin between 2014 and 2022.
“God bless, now, President Trump will stop him,” said Zelenskyy. But nobody has so far, and “people have been dying. … What kind of diplomacy are you talking about?”
America doesn’t feel the pressure of Putin’s incursions now because of its “nice oceans,” but it will, said Zelenskyy.
“Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel,” countered Trump. “We’re trying to solve a problem. You’re in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel.”
Zelenskyy said he was “very serious.”
“You’re gambling with World War III,” said Trump. “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people.”
Trump called Zelenskyy’s hesitancy to make a deal “disrespectful” to the United States, which has given his country so much help.
Vance chided Zelenskyy for campaigning for Biden and not thanking the U.S. for its support, and for “litigating” the issue in front of the press.
Trump said he’s glad the disagreement unfolded in front of the American people.
“I want a ceasefire,” Trump shouted. “Through the stupid president (we gave you) $350 billion.”
Zelenskyy had noted multiple times through the discussion that Putin disregarded ceasefire agreements multiple times.
A reporter asked what would happen if Putin did that again.
Trump said Putin will respect him, and he didn’t respect former President Barack Obama or Biden.
“The problem is, I’ve empowered you to be a tough guy,” said Trump to Zelenskyy. “But I don’t think you’d be a tough guy without the United States.”
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
