Volodymyr Zelenskyy described his recent Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump as "regrettable," saying it did not go as expected.

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Trump, Zelenskyy prep to sign minerals deal before address to Congress: Report

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Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Shianne DeLeon (Video Editor)

President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could sign a minerals agreement prior to Trump’s address to Congress. This comes after a tense Oval Office meeting between the two leader on Feb. 28.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called his meeting with Trump “regrettable” in a post on X, reiterating Ukraine’s commitment to peace.
Prior to Zelenskyy’s statement, Trump paused U.S. military aid to Ukraine, saying it will remain on hold until Zelenskyy demonstrates commitment to negotiations.

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President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could have a minerals agreement signed before Trump addresses Congress Tuesday night, March 4, according to four sources who spoke to Reuters. This comes after the two leaders had a tense meeting in the Oval Office on Friday, Feb. 28.

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The announcement comes just hours after Zelenskyy posted a statement on X that described his recent Oval Office meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump as “regrettable,” saying it did not go as expected.

Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to peace and its willingness to negotiate an end to the conflict.

I would like to reiterate Ukraine’s commitment to peace.

None of us wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 4, 2025

Ukraine ready to negotiate peace

In a statement on X, Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of constructive future cooperation. During Friday’s meeting, Trump and Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized Zelenskyy, accusing Ukraine of “gambling with World War III.”

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Despite the tense exchange, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is prepared to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to achieve a lasting peace.

Reuters’ report suggests Trump has welcomed Zelenskyy back to the table to sign the minerals agreement that was scheduled to be signed Friday.

Ukraine wants to sign minerals agreement, proposes ceasefire

Zelenskyy addressed the minerals and security agreement that was expected to be signed last week but was delayed following the heated meeting. He stated that Ukraine is ready to finalize the deal at any time.

The Ukrainian president also outlined a phased ceasefire plan, which includes the release of prisoners, a ban on missile strikes and long-range drone attacks, and a halt to attacks on civilian infrastructure. However, he emphasized that these actions would require Russia to reciprocate.

Trump pauses military aid to Ukraine

Trump ordered a pause on U.S. military aid to Ukraine on Monday, March 3. His administration stated that the halt will remain in place until Trump is convinced Zelenskyy is committed to peace talks. This decision places additional pressure on Ukraine to engage in negotiations under terms dictated by the U.S.

It remains unclear how Trump will respond to Zelenskyy’s latest statement or whether the military aid pause will be lifted.

Tags: ceasefire, Donald Trump, Drones, JD Vance, Lindsey Graham, missiles, rare earth minerals, Russia, Russia-Ukraine War, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, X

[Karah Rucker]

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY IS CALLING HIS RECENT OVAL OFFICE MEETING WITH PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP “REGRETTABLE.”

IN A POST ON X –

ZELENSKY SAYS THE MEETING DID NOT GO AS EXPECTED BUT REAFFIRMED UKRAINE’S COMMITMENT TO PEACE AND ITS WILLINGNESS TO NEGOTIATE AN END TO THE CONFLICT.

ZELENSKYY SAYS –

“None of us wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.”

HIS POST ALSO SAYING UKRAINE IS READY TO FINALIZE THE MINERALS DEAL THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SIGNED FRIDAY –

BEFORE THE MEETING DERAILED.

“Youre not in a good position you don’t have the cards, with us, you have the cards, you’re gambling with millions of lives, you’re gambling with world war 3.”

TENSIONS SINCE THAT MEETING – HAVE STAYED HIGH.

WITH ZELENSKY TELLING THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AN END TO THE WAR IS QUOTE “VERY, VERY FAR AWAY.”

AN ANSWER TRUMP – DISAGREED WITH MONDAY.

“He said he thinks the war is going to go on for a long time, and he better not be right about that.”

“Now maybe someone doesn’t want to make a deal, and if someone doesn’t want to make a deal i don’t think that person will be around for long.”

AND NOW – ZELENSKY IS SIGNALING HE WANTS TO COME BACK TO THE TABLE –

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE – TO SIGN THE MINERALS AGREEMENT –

AND THEN LOOK AHEAD TO CEASEFIRE NEGOTIATIONS.

IN HIS POST ON X – HE PROPOSED A PHASED PLAN.

HE SUGGESTS STARTING WITH THE RELEASE OF PRISONERS, A BAN ON MISSILE STRIKES AND LONG-RANGE DRONE ATTACKS, AND A HALT TO ATTACKS ON CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE—ALL CONTINGENT ON RUSSIA RECIPROCATING.

REPUBLICAN SENATOR LINSDEY GRAHAM – WHO IN RECENT DAYS QUESTIONED ZELENSKY’S LEADERSHIP AFTER FRIDAY’S DEBACLE –

REPOSTED ZELENSKY’S POST WITH A “THUMBS UP” AND THE WORDS “BETTER DAYS ARE AHEAD.”

IN THE POST –

ZELENSKY EXPRESSED GRATITUDE FOR U.S. SUPPORT – INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF JAVELIN MISSILES UNDER TRUMP’S ADMINISTRATION.

PRIOR TO ZELENSKY’S POST –

TRUMP ORDERED A PAUSE ON MILITARY AID TO UKRAINE – A DECISION TRUMP SAYS WILL STAY IN PLACE UNTIL HE FEELS UKRAINE IS READY TO JOIN HIM AT THE TABLE TO NEGOTIATE WITH PUTIN.

TRUMP HAS REPORTEDLY BEEN IN TALKS WITH PUTIN OVER WAYS TO END THE WAR.

AS OF THIS RECORDING – TRUMP HAS NOT RESPONDED TO ZELENSKY’S STATEMENT.

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