White House national security adviser Mike Waltz has also criticized Kiev for “shaming” against the US president.
US President Donald Trump’s national security adviser demands that Ukrainian President Voldy Zelensky return to negotiations over a critical mineral trade with the United States amid deepening the rift between Washington and Kiev. did.
Zelenskyy on Wednesday rejected plans to acquire a contract for a share of Ukrainian mineral wealth to repay Washington with wartime aid, saying the US did not provide certain security guarantees for its contracts.
“He needs to come back to the table,” Mike Waltz said of Zelensky at a press conference Thursday.
“President Trump is clearly very annoyed by President Zelensky, the fact that he hasn’t come to the table.
Comments came shortly after the US cancelled a planned press conference with US envoys at Zelenskyy and Kyiv.
The Ukrainian leader had planned to address the media along with Ukrainian US envoy, Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, following his speech in Kiev on Thursday.
“As requested by the US, the format of the meeting will provide a filming of the protocol and do not include statements or questions,” Ukrainian president spokesman Serhii Nikiforov told reporters.
Two men were allowed to shaking hands and sitting at each other at the table, photographers and video journalists were allowed to enter the room.
There were no immediate words from either side about the outcome of the consultation.
Zelenskyy later said in a statement that he had a “good detailed” conversation with Kellogg about the possible contract with the US over questions such as security and investments.
“We need to ensure that peace is strong and lasting, so that Russia will not return in war,” Zelensky wrote on social media.
“Ukraine is ready for a strong and effective investment and security contract with the US President. We have proposed the fastest and most constructive way to achieve results. Our team has 24 hours a year I’m ready to work all day.”
The talks began when US President Donald Trump made a series of light-hearted remarks about Zelensky, branding him as a “dictator,” and Ukraine began a full-scale invasion in February 2022. This occurs after suggesting that it is due to the war. Zelensky said Trump lived in a “space of disinformation.”
“Frankly, some of the rhetoric that emerges from Kiev of shaming against President Trump has not been accepted,” Waltz said Thursday in an obvious reference to those comments.
Trump’s comments about the war sparked rage in Europe, where leaders said they mischaracterize the war and cast doubt on the United States as trustworthy security partners. Trump has long said that the US has contributed too much to Europe’s security, and that more burdens should be borne by European countries.
The US president says he wants to overthrow US foreign policy this week by sending several officials to meet Russian officials in Saudi Arabia.
US Vice President JD Vance defended Trump’s approach in a television interview Thursday, calling him an “effective negotiator” “nothing is taken from the table.”
“We really believe we will be in the cusp of peace in Europe for the first time in three years,” Vance added.
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