The U. S. and Ukraine had a rough patch recently. It all started when President Trump decided to pause military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. This happened after a heated meeting between Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The U. S. leaders were upset because they felt Zelenskyy wasn't grateful enough for the billions of dollars in aid sent to Ukraine since the Russian invasion.

The pause in aid was meant to get Ukraine's attention. It was like a wake-up call, according to retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia. He said the U. S. had warned Ukraine before the meeting that the talks would focus on a critical minerals deal. This deal would give the U. S. access to Ukraine's rare earth deposits, which are valuable for aerospace, electric vehicles, and medical manufacturing.

The meeting went south because Zelenskyy pushed Trump to take Kyiv's side in the conflict with Russia. Trump, trying to broker peace, didn't appreciate this pressure. Zelenskyy later regretted the heated words and said he was ready to sign the agreement. He also expressed gratitude for the support from European leaders.

Another Trump envoy, Steve Witkoff, confirmed that talks between the U. S. and Ukraine are planned for next week in Saudi Arabia. However, Kellogg wasn't sure if weapons deliveries would resume even if Zelenskyy accepts the deal. He said, “That’s up to the president. ” Trump mentioned that Zelenskyy had written to him, appreciating U. S. support and expressing readiness to negotiate peace with Russia.

The pause in U. S. intelligence sharing with Ukraine could hurt Ukraine's defense capabilities. This is because Ukraine relies on this intelligence to protect itself from Russian attacks. The Institute for the Study of War assessed that without U. S. intelligence, Russia could intensify its drone and missile strikes, affecting millions of Ukrainian civilians and the growth of Ukraine’s defense industrial base.

Zelenskyy has been seeking peace since the war began. He believes the conflict continues because of Russia's actions. The situation is complex, and it's clear that both sides need to work together to find a solution.

Ukraine's Misstep: How a Meeting Went Wrong

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