Johnson Criticizes Zelenskyy’s Behavior During White House Meeting, Cites Disrespect and Lost Economic Opportunity
House Speaker Mike Johnson has publicly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s conduct during his recent meeting with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance at the White House, characterizing it as disrespectful and detrimental to potential agreements that could benefit both the United States and Ukraine. Johnson expressed surprise and disappointment at Zelenskyy’s demeanor, suggesting it deviated significantly from established diplomatic protocol and potentially jeopardized a beneficial mineral rights agreement.
Johnson’s criticism centers around what he perceived as a lack of gratitude from Zelenskyy, particularly given the precarious situation Ukraine faces in its ongoing conflict with Russia. According to Johnson, instead of expressing appreciation for the United States’ support and engaging constructively in discussions, Zelenskyy allegedly interrupted and challenged his hosts, a move the Speaker found "shocking."
"The person who walked away from the table yesterday was President Zelenskyy," Johnson stated. "I mean, look, I’ve been involved in a lot of bilateral meetings like this with heads of state and dignitaries. There’s a certain protocol to these events. But for him to act as he did was rather shocking to everyone. I mean, President Zelenskyy, instead of showing gratitude, he interrupted and berated his hosts at a very perilous time for his country. He should have been anxious, I think, to enter into this agreement."
The specific agreement in question involves mineral rights in Ukraine, which Johnson believes would be mutually beneficial for both nations. He emphasized that the agreement would provide the United States with an economic interest in Ukraine, creating an economic partnership at a critical time for the country’s recovery and development. Johnson argued that this economic partnership would also reinforce America’s commitment to defending its interests, signaling to the world that the U.S. stands by its partners.
"The mineral rights agreement would be a win-win for both countries," Johnson explained. "It would give us an economic interest there, and everyone around the world knows that America will always defend our interests and our people. We would have created an economic partnership with Ukraine at a time when it needs to be reemerging. And that would have been a great thing."
Johnson voiced his perplexity at Zelenskyy’s apparent reluctance to embrace the mineral rights deal, suggesting it was a missed opportunity. "And I don’t understand why President Zelenskyy would not accept that gratefully. And I think it’s a big mistake. And I hope he changes his mind because we’ve got to bring an end to this conflict," he said.
The Speaker’s comments were prompted, in part, by a question from CNN’s Dana Bash regarding Republican Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s reaction to the reported clash between Trump and Zelenskyy. Murkowski had accused Trump of "walking away from our allies and embracing Putin" in a post on X. Johnson, however, strongly refuted any suggestion that Trump or Republicans, in general, are aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During an interview on NBC News’ "Meet the Press" with Kristen Welker, Johnson further elaborated on his perspective, emphasizing that it was not Trump or Vance who berated Zelenskyy, but rather the other way around. "I was with the president a day before that meeting, and he was excited about this mineral rights deal. He believed it, and we all believed it to be in the best interest of both countries," Johnson stated. "It is not the President and the Vice President that berated Zelenskyy. I saw it the other way around. I saw Zelenskyy rather stiff-necked in the Oval Office instead of being gracious and saying, ‘Thank you,’ and looking for a way out of this mess. He did quite the opposite."
Johnson dismissed the notion that the Trump administration or Republicans in Congress are sympathetic to Putin’s agenda as "pretty absurd," reaffirming his stance on Russia’s leader. When pressed on his views of Putin, Johnson described him as "an old-school communist, a former KGB agent" who "is not to be trusted, and he is dangerous."
He further asserted that Russia, along with China, Iran, and North Korea, constitute a "new axis powers" that are inherently opposed to the interests of the United States.
Trump himself has also weighed in on the meeting, accusing Zelenskyy of "disrespecting" the U.S. and alleging that the Ukrainian leader is not genuinely seeking peace. In a Truth Social post, Trump claimed that Zelenskyy believes U.S. involvement gives him an unfair advantage in negotiations.
"I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations," Trump wrote. "I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace."
The contrasting accounts of the meeting and the subsequent public pronouncements from key figures highlight the complexities and potential strains in the relationship between the United States and Ukraine, particularly as the conflict with Russia continues. The disagreement over the mineral rights deal and the accusations of disrespect raise questions about the future direction of U.S. policy toward Ukraine and the ability of both nations to find common ground in navigating the ongoing crisis. The situation underscores the importance of diplomatic tact and mutual understanding in fostering strong alliances and achieving shared objectives on the international stage. It remains to be seen how these tensions will be resolved and what impact they will have on the broader geopolitical landscape.
