By Many have wondered why it appeared that Volodymyr Zelensky had gotten terrible advice in dealing with Donald Trump, and now we know the answer.
It’s because he was.
Before his disastrous meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Zelensky met with a group of Democratic lawmakers who urged him to reject a minerals deal proposed by the administration. This decision played a significant role in shaping the confrontational tone of his later discussion with Trump.
Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut who attended the meeting, remarked that Zelensky was unwilling to accept a peace agreement that, in his view, conceded too much to Russia without guaranteeing Ukraine’s security. Murphy shared these concerns publicly, posting a photo from the meeting and reinforcing Zelensky’s stance.
“Just finished a meeting with President Zelensky here in Washington,” Murphy wrote on social media. “He confirmed that the Ukrainian people will not support a fake peace agreement where Putin gets everything he wants and there are no security arrangements for Ukraine.”
The decision to listen to Democrats, who would happily trade the deaths of Ukrainians to win a news cycle against Trump is a disaster for Zelensky, writes Michael Goodwin at The New York Post.
By listening to the nakedly partisan advice of Dems instead of dealing forthrightly with the current president, Zelensky betrayed his countrymen and, for now at least, leaves them without the military and diplomatic protection that only America can provide.
Good luck counting on Britain, France and the rest of Europe to save Ukraine. Maybe the Germans will send strudel.
In a perverse way, Murphy and other Dems got the outcome they wanted. The fireworks at the White House gave them an excuse to replay their Russia Russia Russia hoax.
Once again, they and their media handmaidens are dishonestly insisting that Trump is in Vladimir Putin’s camp.
Like the original Russia hoax that consumed much of Trump’s first term, Russia 2.0 is born of political desperation. After months of not knowing how to respond to Trump’s fast, populist start to his second term, Dems up and down the food chain decided that the president’s refusal to write a blank check to Zelensky and pledge a military guarantee amounts to a gift to Putin.
Shortly after this discussion, Zelensky arrived at the White House for a meeting with Trump, initially set to finalize a minerals agreement that would grant U.S. companies access to Ukraine’s rare-earth resources. However, the discussion quickly deteriorated as Zelensky questioned the deal’s lack of security provisions.
The Trump administration had framed the minerals agreement as a key step in a broader peace initiative, arguing that economic collaboration between the U.S. and Ukraine would not only aid in rebuilding the country but also serve as a deterrent to further Russian aggression. Trump, who had long criticized what he saw as the Biden administration’s slow and ineffective military aid strategy, maintained that his approach would bring a swift resolution to the conflict.
However, Zelensky’s insistence on a formal security guarantee was met with resistance. Sources familiar with the exchange reported that Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance were visibly frustrated, perceiving Zelensky’s shift in stance as a reversal. The meeting escalated in tension, ultimately ending with Trump dismissing Zelensky from the room.
Even those who have been most critical of Trump slammed Zelensky for ruining the deal.
This is entirely Zelensky’s fault. Trump greeted him graciously, was ready to turn the page. Just said he wanted to get help Ukraine get it’s territory back. And Z comes in and gets into a fight in public? I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. https://t.co/633sPiJQPn
— Marc Thiessen 🇺🇸❤️🇺🇦🇹🇼🇮🇱 (@marcthiessen) February 28, 2025
One pro-Ukraine expert, normally supportive of Zelensky, offered me this perspective: pic.twitter.com/0VANpy1QIG
— Jake Tapper 🦅 (@jaketapper) February 28, 2025
I’ve said many times that I do not agree with the US president’s approach to Ukraine.
Still, Zelensky screwed this up bigtime
These are two thoughts that can live compatibly in one’s head. https://t.co/XdJcRkzYe2
— Ryan Evans (@EvansRyan202) February 28, 2025
The aftermath of the meeting has sparked speculation that Democratic lawmakers influenced Zelensky’s decision to take a more rigid position, a strategy that ultimately backfired. While Democrats framed the dispute as evidence of Trump’s deference to Russia, Republicans argued that Zelensky entered the negotiations with unrealistic demands, thereby undermining discussions.
From the administration’s perspective, however, Zelensky’s rejection of the deal represented a lost opportunity that could further isolate Ukraine. Trump has consistently emphasized that his administration will not provide unchecked financial and military assistance to Kyiv, and Zelensky’s stance may have jeopardized future support. Without backing from the U.S., Ukraine faces a precarious diplomatic future, as European allies continue to offer rhetorical support but remain reluctant to commit to direct military intervention.
🚨Wow: Sec Bessent calmly and methodically schools CBS propagandist and internet meme Margaret Brennan on Zelenskyy —
“We were already set up to sign to sign the deal.”
“President Zelensky came into the Oval Office and tried to relitigate in front of the world the deal.” pic.twitter.com/AKih6QZYRn
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) March 2, 2025
Beyond the minerals agreement, a larger issue looms over negotiations. Trump has maintained that any final peace deal must involve some territorial concessions to Russia and the presence of European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine. By publicly rejecting these terms rather than negotiating privately, Zelensky has placed additional strain on the U.S.-Ukraine relationship at a pivotal moment.
Although Zelensky’s concerns over Russian aggression remain legitimate, his decision to align with Trump’s Democratic critics ahead of the White House meeting blew up in his face. According to reports, Trump reminded him multiple times during their exchange: “You don’t have the cards” to dictate terms.
With no agreement reached and no immediate security guarantees forthcoming, Ukraine now faces an increasingly uncertain diplomatic and military landscape. Zelensky must navigate these challenges without the assurances he had sought to obtain during his visit to Washington.
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