White House Warns Ukraine Over Criticism of Trump’s Peace Talks and Resource Deal
The Biden administration has reportedly urged Ukraine to stop publicly criticizing former President Donald Trump’s approach to peace talks with Russia and to agree to a deal granting the U.S. control over half of Ukraine’s mineral wealth. White House officials have emphasized that rejecting the agreement would be “unacceptable.”
U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz told Fox News that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should “tone down” his rhetoric and seriously consider the proposal, which includes transferring $500 billion worth of natural resources—such as oil and gas—to the U.S. government.
Waltz dismissed Kyiv’s objections to Trump’s negotiations with Moscow, arguing that Ukraine should be more appreciative of America’s support. He also denied accusations that the U.S. had sidelined both Ukraine and European allies by engaging in direct talks with Russia earlier this week, calling it routine “shuttle diplomacy.”
“Some of the rhetoric coming out of Kyiv, including insults toward President Trump, has been unacceptable,” Waltz told reporters at the White House. “President Trump is frustrated with Zelenskyy’s refusal to engage and seize the opportunity we’ve presented.”
Growing Tensions Between Trump and Zelenskyy
On Wednesday, Trump escalated tensions by calling Zelenskyy a “dictator” who refuses to hold elections, blaming Ukraine for prolonging the war. In response, Zelenskyy accused Trump of being trapped in a Kremlin “disinformation bubble” and urged his team to be more truthful.
Elon Musk, who is playing a major role in Trump’s government transition, also attacked Zelenskyy, claiming that Ukrainians “despise” their leader. In a tirade on his X social media platform, Musk accused the Ukrainian president of running a “massive graft machine feeding off the dead bodies of Ukrainian soldiers.”
“He knows he would lose in a landslide, so he canceled the election,” Musk wrote, despite a recent poll showing that 57% of Ukrainians still trust their president.
Signs of a shift in U.S. policy toward Ukraine became even clearer when Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, abruptly canceled a planned press conference in Kyiv. After a meeting with Zelenskyy, Kellogg was scheduled to take questions at the presidential palace, but the event was called off at the last minute.
Zelenskyy later said he had a “good discussion” with Kellogg, covering the battlefield situation, prisoner exchanges, and security guarantees. He thanked the U.S. for its support, saying, “It’s important for us—and for the entire free world—that American strength is felt.”
Kellogg considered one of the more pro-Ukraine figures in Trump’s circle, was notably absent from the U.S.-Russia meeting in Riyadh earlier this week. A Ukrainian official suggested he had been sidelined from peace negotiations while noting that Zelenskyy remained “highly motivated” and engaged.
U.S. Signals Ukraine Is No Longer a Priority
As Trump’s administration pivots toward negotiations with Russia, the U.S. appears to be distancing itself from Ukraine diplomatically. According to Reuters, the U.S. is refusing to co-sponsor a United Nations resolution marking the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The resolution condemns Russian aggression and reaffirms Ukraine’s sovereignty, but this is the first time Washington has failed to back such a measure.
Additionally, the Financial Times reported that the White House blocked a G7 statement blaming Russia for the war. U.S. officials objected to the phrase “Russian aggression” and declined to approve a proposal allowing Zelenskyy to address G7 leaders via video.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested that the White House could adjust its sanctions on Russia depending on Moscow’s willingness to negotiate. While visiting Kyiv, Bessent presented Ukraine with Washington’s mineral wealth demand, calling it “payback” for past U.S. military assistance.
Bessent claimed Ukraine had agreed to the deal, but Zelenskyy pushed back, noting that the U.S. has provided $69.2 billion in aid under the Biden administration—far less than the value of the resources Trump is demanding. Zelenskyy made clear that any agreement would require firm security guarantees from Washington.
European Leaders Rally Behind Ukraine
As the U.S. repositions its stance, European leaders have expressed continued support for Ukraine. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed their backing, while Zelenskyy thanked Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen for standing by Kyiv. “We deeply appreciate Denmark’s clear stance on a true peace—one that must be securely guaranteed,” he wrote on social media.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has celebrated Trump’s aggressive stance toward Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, accused Zelenskyy of inflammatory rhetoric, while former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev openly mocked Ukraine’s situation.
“‘A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left,’” Medvedev posted on X, quoting Trump. “If you had told me three months ago that these were the words of a U.S. president, I would have laughed out loud. Trump is 200% right.”
With the U.S. pulling back its support and pushing for a resource deal, Ukraine now faces mounting diplomatic pressure as it continues to resist Russia’s ongoing offensive.
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