Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in Washington, D.C. on Friday to sign an agreement that would give the U.S the rights to rare Ukrainian minerals, to help pay for the security the U.S. has provided in the ongoing war with Russia.
Vice President JD Vance, center right, speaks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center left, as President Donald Trump, center, listens in the Oval Office at the White House, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Washington.
Mystyslav Chernov / AP
But Friday’s meeting quickly became contentious. Trump told Zelenskyy that he was not acting at all thankful for U.S. support, and said he was “gambling with World War III.”
Thousands of Ukrainians live in Oregon. Some had strong reactions to the exchange, including Tatiana Terdal, the president of the Portland-Lviv Friendship City Association.
“I’m hearing a lot of reaction saying how difficult this must be for President Zelenskyy,” she said, “how much self-control he must have to be in a meeting like this.”
Three years ago this week, Russia mounted a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, triggering a war that has killed more than 12,000 civilians, displaced 4 million people internally and created nearly 7 million refugees, according to the United Nations.
Today, Russian forces occupy roughly 20% of Ukraine.
Earlier this month, Trump falsely accused Ukraine of starting the war and called Zelenskyy a dictator. He also initiated talks with Russia — but not Ukraine — to end the conflict.
Trump later walked back his dictator comments.
Terdal said it was important for Zelenskyy to attend Friday’s meeting, as an attempt to return to diplomacy.
“It is important for Ukraine to be present at discussions where the fate of Ukrainians is being discussed,” Terdal said. “Nothing about us, without us.”
And she noted it’s not new for Ukrainian leaders to withstand intense pressure from an American president before getting their point across.
As far back as 1991, George Bush cautioned Ukraine against “suicidal nationalism” before the country voted to withdraw from the Soviet Union.
“Unfortunately, it’s not unusual for Ukrainians to have to keep cool under such pressure,” Terdal said. “But it is important for us to get our Ukrainian point of view heard.”
Zelenskyy left the White House Friday without signing the agreement, and Trump later said the deal was off.
President Donald Trump welcomes Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House in Washington, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Ben Curtis / AP
