The dispute between Zelensky and Trump: Americans responded with millions in donations
5 March 2025 14:59
After a verbal dispute between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump, the reaction of Americans was unexpected: in just a few days after the scandal, more than $1.5 million was donated to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is reported in the Telegram channel UNITED24, "Komersant Ukrainian" informs
The United24 platform has published data on the most active donors, and the first place was taken by citizens of the United States.
“Thanks to you, fantastic UNITED24 donors and people from all over the world, $2,597,908 was raised from February 28 to March 2 to support the Ukrainian army,” the statement reads.
The largest amount was contributed by residents of the United States of America – more than $1.5 million. The second largest donor is the United Kingdom, which contributed more than $168,000 to support the Ukrainian army. Third place went to Canada, whose residents donated more than $119,000 to support the Ukrainian army.
The list of 20 countries whose citizens actively contributed to donations to support the Ukrainian army:
- USA
- United Kingdom
- Canada
- Germany
- Sweden
- France
- Netherlands
- Finland
- Australia
- Switzerland
- Denmark
- Norway
- Ireland
- Belgium
- Italy
- China
- Spain
- Austria
- Poland
- New Zealand.
It should be noted that on February 28, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump had a quarrel during a meeting at the White House. The President of Ukraine left early without signing a minerals agreement with the US.
This meeting, initially aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two countries, turned into a public conflict that exacerbated the already difficult relationship.
The meeting at the White House began with a discussion of an agreement to jointly develop Ukraine’s mineral resources, including valuable minerals such as lithium and cobalt, which are strategically important for the production of military equipment and batteries for electric vehicles. However, the talks quickly turned acrimonious. President Trump accused Zelenskyy of a lack of gratitude for US military assistance and expressed dissatisfaction with Ukraine’s position on peace talks with Russia. He said that Zelenskyy was “playing with the risk of World War III” and urged him to strive for peace, otherwise the United States might reconsider its support.
US Vice President J.D. Vance echoed Trump’s criticism, accusing Zelenskyy of disrespect and unwillingness to compromise. In response, Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine cannot make concessions that would jeopardize its sovereignty and territorial integrity. He noted that Russia is an aggressor seeking to destroy Ukraine’s independence and ruled out the possibility of transferring any territories to Moscow.
Following the escalation of the conflict, the meeting was ended early, and Zelenskyy left the White House without signing the minerals agreement. This agreement was supposed to create an investment fund for Ukraine’s recovery, where 50% of revenues from state-owned natural resources such as lithium, cobalt, oil, and natural gas would be allocated for this purpose. However, the current draft of the agreement lacked clear security guarantees for Ukraine after the war, which caused concern on the Ukrainian side.
The failure to sign the agreement caused concern among European leaders, who expressed support for Ukraine and condemned the Trump administration’s actions. They emphasized the need to maintain the unity of the West in supporting Ukraine and countering Russian aggression.
Ukraine’s reaction and next steps
After the incident, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine was still ready to sign a minerals agreement with the United States and that negotiations were continuing at a lower level. He emphasized that Ukraine’s freedom and independence are not for sale and that any peace deal must guarantee the prevention of future aggression by Russia. Zelenskyy also expressed his willingness to step down as president if it would speed up Ukraine’s accession to NATO, emphasizing that his mission would be fulfilled if Ukraine became a member of the Alliance.
The Ukrainian leader emphasized the importance of constructive dialogue with partners and expressed hope for improved relations with the United States. He emphasized that Ukraine deserves an equal dialog with the United States and that direct communication between the leaders is crucial to resolving pressing issues.
International reaction and perspectives
European leaders expressed support for Ukraine and condemned the Trump administration’s behavior during the meeting. They emphasized the need to maintain the unity of the West in supporting Ukraine and countering Russian aggression. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed their readiness to work on a peace agreement that would ensure Ukraine’s long-term security and prevent further Russian aggression.
However, the incident at the White House highlighted the existing differences between the United States and Europe in their approaches to resolving the conflict in Ukraine. While European leaders are seeking to strengthen support for Ukraine and increase pressure on Russia, the Trump administration has shown a tendency to reconsider its position and possibly reduce support.
In the context of ongoing Russian aggression and instability in international relations, Ukraine faces serious challenges. The country seeks to maintain the support of its Western partners and ensure security and stability in the region. Achieving these goals requires diplomatic flexibility, strengthening of international alliances, and a willingness to compromise that does not undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
