Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the Ukrainian President Volodyymyr Zenskyy had already refused twice to sign a minerals deal with the United States.
“This should be one of the greatest diplomatic accidents of all time by President Zenskyy,” Bessent said in an interview on Friday with Laura Ingraham, host of Fox News “”The Ingraham corner.”
Bessent explained that Zenskyy told him during a meeting in Kiev that he would not sign a mineral deal that would exchange billions of dollars in American aid financing for rare earths and other agents from Ukraine. Zenskyy also refused to close the deal with vice president JD Vance and State Secretary Marco Rubio, Berry explained.
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed on Fox News that Ukrainian President Volodyymyr Zenskyy had already refused twice to sign a mineral deal with the United States. (Fox News)
On Friday, Trump and Vance Zenskyy are in full view of reporters, with cameras rolling. The tense exchange led to a canceled meeting between Zenskyy and Trump.
“It was supposed to be a great day and this is one of the biggest own goals in diplomatic history,” said Bessent, referring to a football term about scoring your own team.
“Today I was shocked that he would behave like that on camera in front of the world,” he added.
On the social media site X, Sen. Eric Schmitt, RM posted“Zenskyy could have signed the deal five days earlier, but wanted to come to the White House. He had been difficult for two weeks. Yet he wanted the White House meeting. Trump was also happy about it, even the day before public and private the day of it. Although he could have reset the whole thing, Zenskyy was antagonistic and at the top.”
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Shortly after the meeting, Trump posted on his truth that Zenskyy was “not ready for peace”. (Photos supplied by getty images)
Schmitt concluded: “He had a putt of one foot, but was more interested in process vests that have to be discussed in public behind closed doors (and are).”
Shortly after the meeting, Trump posted on his truth that Zenskyy was “not ready for peace”.
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“We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today,” wrote Trump. “A lot was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such a fire and pressure.”
“Thank you, America, thanks for your support, thanks for this visit,” Zenskyy posted on X on Friday afternoon. “Thanks @potus, the congress and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we work exactly for that.”
Morgan Phillips from Fox News has contributed to this report.
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