Zelensky 'Gambling With WWIII' After Oval Office Meeting With Trump

During a heated Oval Office meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, Trump warned that Zelensky was "gambling with World War III".

Shortly after, the President of the United States cancelled a press conference - stating the wartime leader was "not ready for peace" with Russia.

Why Was Zelensky at the Oval Office?

The meeting between the Presidents seemed to be going well. The initial purpose of the visit was to sign a framework deal that would give the United States a stake on Ukraine's rare-earth elements.

But what exactly are these rare earths?

Rare earths are a group of 17 elements, such as scandium, cerium, dysprosium, erbium, gadolinium, holmium, lanthanum, lutetium, neodymium, praseodymium, samarium, terbium, thulium and yttrium, which are all similar in chemical make-up.

Despite their name, they're actually pretty abundant throughout the world, but the process to get them is elaborate, and currently, China dominates the supply chain.

These elements are in high demand because they can be used for defense and technology, such as in missiles, lasers, tanks, computers, smartphones, and clean energy tech.

In regards to a potential mineral deal, President Trump had stated, “I told them that I want the equivalent of like $500 billion worth of rare earth (minerals), and they’ve essentially agreed to do that.”

However, experts believe the total value of Ukraine's rare earths equal to only about $12 billion.

Ukraine has many important minerals that are used in making advanced technology, weapons, and aircraft. These minerals are valuable and necessary for many industries.

The U.S. Geological Survey lists 50 minerals as "critical" for national security and the economy. Different countries may consider different minerals critical, depending on what they need most.

Ukraine has large amounts of several important minerals, including:

• Titanium

• Graphite

• Lithium

• Uranium

Ukraine is one of the world's top producers of titanium sponge, ilmenite, and graphite.

It's hard to say exactly how much Ukraine's minerals are worth. Prices change, and we need more studies to know how much is there and how easy it is to get.

A 2023 study by Forbes Ukraine estimated the value could be as high as $14.8 trillion. The Ukrainian government says its natural resources, including minerals, are worth "trillions of U.S. dollars."

A Peaceful Meeting Turned Heated

President Trump and President Zelensky seemed to be cordial, with Zelensky even giving Trump the belt of heavyweight boxing champion, Oleksandr Usyk, and sharing images of civilians in Ukraine before and after their Russian captivity.

However, things took a turn about 45 minutes into the meeting.

Here's what went down:

Vance criticized former President Biden's leadership during the three-year war between Russia and Ukraine, stating, "the path to peace and the path to prosperity is maybe engaging in diplomacy."

Zelenksy responds by stating various situations where Russia reneged on treaties and agreements, then ended by saying: "What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about?"

Vance fired back, saying it was "disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media." Then the men started yelling back and forth.

Vance said, "Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems, you should be thanking the president for wanting to bring an end to the conflict."

As to which Zelensky responded, "Have you ever been to Ukraine? Have you seen the problems we have? Come once." And then added that he would "feel things".

Vance then accused Ukriane of bringing America on a "propaganda tour."

Then Trump butted in, telling Zelensky, "We’re trying to solve a problem. Don't tell us what we're going to feel."

He then added,

"You are in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel. We’re going to feel very good. We’re going to feel very good and very strong. You’re right now not in a very good position. You’ve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position. You’re gambling with World War III. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should.”

Vance chimed in asking Zelensky if he's ever said thank you once. Adding, "You went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October. Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who’s trying to save your country."

Zelensky then accused Vance of speaking "very loudly".

To which Trump interjected, "He’s not speaking loudly. Your country is in big trouble." In between shutting down Zelensky as he tried to interrupt.

"You’re not winning, you’re not winning this. You have a damn good chance of coming out OK because of us. We gave you, through this stupid president [Joe Biden], $350 billion. We gave you military equipment… If you didn’t have our military equipment, this war would have been over in two weeks.”

“You have to be thankful,” Trump continued, “You don’t have the cards.

“Your people are dying. You’re running low on soldiers. Listen, you’re running low on soldiers … Then you tell us, ‘I don’t want a cease-fire. I don’t want a cease-fire."

Trump added, “It’ll be a tough deal to make, because the attitudes have to change.”

Trump then asked the reporters to leave after finishing with, "You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out. I don’t think it’s going to be pretty, this is going to be great television, I will say that.”

Zelensky then left the Oval Office in a car waiting outside just two hours and 20 minutes after he arrived.

Less than an hour after leaving, Zelensky posted on X, "Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that."

Trump left the White House to head back to his home in Mar-a-Lago, and told reporters, "I’m looking for peace. We’re not looking to go into a 10-year war and play games. We want peace,” the president said. “[Zelensky is] looking for something that I’m not looking for. He’s looking to go on and fight, fight, fight. We’re looking to end the death."