House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., stated on Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “needs to come to his senses and come back to the table in gratitude, or someone else needs to lead the country” if Ukraine hopes to move forward with a U.S.-brokered peace deal. His remarks follow a heated exchange in the Oval Office, where Zelenskyy clashed with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance over the terms of a mineral wealth agreement.
During an interview on NBC News’ Meet the Press, Johnson underscored Trump’s efforts to mediate peace, asserting, “President Trump is trying to get these two parties to a point of peace.” He expressed disappointment in Zelenskyy’s response, stating, “What President Zelenskyy did in the White House was effectively signal to us that he’s not ready for that yet, and I think that’s a great disappointment.”
Johnson further emphasized Trump’s stance, making it clear that “if [Zelenskyy] is ready for peace, then we can negotiate a deal.”
@VimleshRajbansi (Vimlesh Rajbansi)
Twitter Feb 28, 2025 https://x.com/VimleshRajbansi/status/1895688258828583257
“Zelensky in the Oval Watch the entire video to understand the context of this meeting and when things fell apart from 40min after JD raised diplomacy. Do you agree with Vance that Zelensky did not once say thank you?”
Contentious Oval Office Meeting Sparks Debate
The dispute stems from Zelenskyy’s insistence on including security guarantees—assurances that the U.S. would intervene if Russia violated a ceasefire—as part of the mineral rights agreement. However, Trump and Vance pushed back, telling Zelenskyy he “doesn’t have the cards” to dictate terms. They also urged him to show greater appreciation for U.S. support in Ukraine’s war effort.
Following the confrontation, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., openly called for Zelenskyy’s resignation, branding the meeting a “complete, utter disaster.” Speaking to reporters at the White House, Graham stated, “I don’t know if we can ever do business with Zelenskyy again,” adding, “either he needs to resign and send somebody over that we can do business with, or he needs to change.”
On Meet the Press, Johnson echoed similar frustrations, criticizing Zelenskyy’s conduct. He told moderator Kristen Welker, “He berated and interrupted his host instead of expressing gratitude for the extraordinary help that the U.S. has provided his country.”
