A month after President Donald Trump’s inauguration, the Trump administration began looking into the Ukrainian and Russian conflict. After three years of defending and aiding Ukraine, the Trump administration has decided to cut off all aid for the remainder of the war.
As a result, the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, scheduled a meeting with President Trump and Vice President JD Vance to negotiate.
Ukraine and Russia have been at war since Russia’s invasion on Feb. 22, 2022.
Before the war, Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, displayed many warning signs of an impending invasion. He expressed interest in gaining more land, splitting up the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and reestablishing the Soviet Union.
While some countries have stayed neutral, others have taken sides in the conflict. The U.S. has been the largest donor to Ukraine and has supplied many resources for the war.
The meeting was to discuss a potential mineral deal between Ukraine and U.S., which was rejected previously. Ukraine has access to rare minerals, and the deal would give the U.S. partial ownership of them.
However, the meeting became tense. Vance exchanged heated words with Zelenskyy, saying that Zelenskyy should be more thankful for the U.S.’s help and support in the war against Russia. Zelenskyy and Trump also discussed the U.S.’s support of Ukraine.
“He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office,” Trump said.
Throughout the meeting, Zelenskyy, Vance and Trump frequently argued. Vance expressed that diplomacy could be the key to solving the Ukraine-Russia conflict, while Zelenskyy’s opinion differed.
After intense words were exchanged, Zelenskyy did not sign the mineral agreement, and he soon departed from the meeting.
In a more recent discussion, a 30-day cease-fire plan has been formulated and discussed among leaders. European leaders endorsed this plan within a short time span, and, on March 12, Ukraine agreed.
However, Russia denied this 30-day cease-fire idea and responded with another week of war in Ukraine.
On March 18, Trump and Putin met to discuss a ceasefire. The two agreed to a 30-day cease-fire against energy infrastructure in Ukraine.
