“It is impossible to enter into an economic contract without a peace agreement,” said U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent said on Sunday that the economic contract with Ukraine is currently not on the table after a fierce exchange between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Voldymi Zelenki in the oval office on February 28th.
“President Trump’s view on this economic arrangement was to further intertwin the American people with Ukrainians and not show sunlight,” Bescent told host Margaret Brennan on March 2.
During the meeting, Zelenskyy said he would not accept a ceasefire without security guarantees from the US. He later suggested that he could not trust Russian President Vladimir Putin to respect a potential peace agreement 25 times, causing him to break the potential peace agreement.
Vice President JD Vance said it was rude for Zelenskyy to come to the oval office and try to sue the deal in front of American media. Trump and Vance accused Zelensky of being ungrateful to US support during the three years of the war that has continued since Russian troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
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He also said the agreement “is not enough, it needs more than that.” “A ceasefire without security guarantees is dangerous for Ukraine. We’ve fought for three years, and the people of Ukrainians need to know that America is on our side,” Zelenskyy said.
Bescent suggested that Zelensky’s remarks in the oval office were reluctant to negotiate with Russia and opposed the US efforts to bring both countries into negotiations to end the war.
“If having an economic agreement makes no sense if he wants to continue the fight? President Trump wants a peace deal.”
When asked if the economic contract with Ukraine was still on the table, Bescent said: “Not at this time.”
“He said, ‘I want to make peace. The president told reporters on March 1. “His people are dying. He doesn’t have a card, so you understand that.”
Speaking to reporters on March 2, Zelensky suggested that he doesn’t think the failed meeting would affect Ukraine’s US support.
“I think our relationship will continue when it comes to saving relationships,” Zelenskyy said.
He also said that differences in opinion regarding the potential deal should have been held behind closed doors.
“I don’t think it’s right when such a discussion is fully open,” he said. “I don’t think the form of what happened has brought us anything positive or extra as a partner.”
In an interview with Fox News’ Bret Bayer on February 28 shortly after the White House meeting, Zelensky said there was no reason to apologize to Trump after the enthusiastic exchange.
“No, I respect the President and I respect the people of America,” Zelensky said in response to a question about whether he should apologise.
“I think we have to be very open and very honest. I don’t know if we’ve done anything wrong,” he added.
Emel Akan, Samantha Flom and Reuters contributed to this report.
