The meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump at the White House, which was supposed to end with the signing of a key mineral extraction agreement, turned into a spectacular disaster. The Ukrainian president, giving in to the whispers of anti-Trump Democrats, rejected the proposal and offended his host. As conservative columnist Michael Goodwin writes in the “New York Post,” in doing so Zelensky betrayed his nation’s interests and handed Putin an unexpected gift.
“Instead of sensing the atmosphere in the Oval Office, Zelensky seems to have read the mood of a completely different room—the one where he earlier met with Democrats hostile to Trump,” Goodwin writes in the “New York Post.”
According to Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, it was those Democrats who convinced the Ukrainian leader to reject the U.S. president’s minerals offer. Murphy boasted on X that Zelensky “confirmed that Ukrainians will not support a phony peace where Putin gets everything and Ukraine has no security guarantees.” Shortly afterward, at 11:55 a.m., Zelensky arrived at the White House, where Trump greeted him with a smile—a smile that soon faded.
Talks that were meant to conclude with the signing of an agreement on the extraction of rare minerals in Ukraine quickly went off the rails. Trump, angered by his guest’s arrogance, eventually kicked him out of the office. Contrary to theories about a trap set by Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, it was Zelensky who arrived with a hidden agenda—to sign nothing that had been negotiated with Trump’s team, despite earlier promises. Goodwin stresses that the blame for this blunder lies with the American Democrats, who preferred political maneuvering over the good of Ukraine. It should be added that Zelensky may have heard similar whispers from representatives of certain European countries, especially Germany and its allies.
As Goodwin writes in the “NY Post,” Trump’s plan was simple yet ambitious: a partnership in resource extraction to finance Ukraine’s reconstruction and serve as the first step toward a ceasefire. Although Zelensky privately agreed to the terms, he publicly rejected them, demanding ironclad security guarantees from the U.S.—something Trump had clearly ruled out. Instead of negotiating behind closed doors, the Ukrainian leader chose confrontation, insulting both Trump and Vance. “It’s great TV but a disaster for Ukraine,” the president remarked, suggesting that Zelensky had handed Putin the advantage.
Democrats and Europe: Allies or Bystanders?
Democrats, led by Chris Murphy and Senator Chuck Schumer, are celebrating as if Zelensky’s failure were their success. Schumer accused Trump of “doing Putin’s dirty work,” and Democratic Senator Adam Schiff called him a “coward.” New York Governor Kathy Hochul added dramatically, “Ukraine is our ally; Putin is not. It’s that simple.” Goodwin scoffs that Hochul, who is struggling with crime in her own state, now wants to lecture the president on democracy.
Meanwhile, Europe is not far behind. The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, declared that “the free world needs a new leader” and that Europeans “will stand by Ukraine.” The columnist asks ironically whether this standing by Ukraine means sending strudel instead of tanks. Without American support—both military and economic—Ukraine is left at the mercy of weak allies who prefer applause to action.
Zelensky had a chance to apologize in an interview with Fox News, but he stubbornly insisted, “I’m not sure we did anything wrong.” Goodwin sees this as ignorance bordering on madness. Trump reminded him three times, “You don’t hold the cards” to make such demands—yet Zelensky ignored reality.
The Tragic Consequences of Pride
Rejecting the minerals plan means American companies and interests will not enter Ukraine, something that could have deterred Russia. Trump wanted Putin, as part of an ultimate deal, to return some of the occupied territories, and for Europe—including France and the UK—to deploy peacekeeping forces. Rather than seizing this opportunity, Zelensky chose a dead-end road, hoping for a miracle from Democrats and Europeans. Goodwin concludes bitterly that it is a tragic mistake, one that could cost Ukraine everything it still has left.