U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met on February 28, 2025 at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC.
Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La).
His comments came two days after President Donald Trump, Vice President Judd Vance and Zelensky. Open in the Oval Office The Ukrainian president visited Washington to negotiate an agreement on Ukrainian rare earth minerals.
“President Trump is trying to bring peace to both parties,” Johnson said in an interview with NBC News, “Meet the media with the press,” adding: “What President Zelensky did at the White House effectively told us that he was not ready for it, and I think it was a big disappointment.” ”
Johnson stressed that Trump “is very clear about it-if (Zelenskyy) is ready for peace, then we can negotiate a deal.”
Zelenskyy often said he was seeking to include security guarantees in the Mineral Rights Agreement or assurance that the United States would receive Ukraine’s assistance if Russia violated the ceasefire agreement.
During the Oval Office brawl, Trump told Zelenskyy that he had “no card” to negotiate and joined Vance, asking the Ukrainian president to be more grateful for U.S. support for Ukraine.
Johnson responded to the president and vice president on Sunday, telling “media” host Kristen Welker that Zelenskyy “was condemned and interrupted his master, rather than thanking the extraordinary help the United States has provided to him.”
Johnson also believes that the inherent security assurance of the mineral rights agreement is Welker said: “This mineral right is a victory and a victory for everyone. It will allow us to get the rare earth minerals we need and it will provide some security for Ukraine.”
“After that, they will effectively build economic partnerships with us and we will surely defend our interests and investments,” Johnson added. “Russia knows that. China knows that. Iran, North Korea knows that, and that is a very important message for us.”
Johnson also talks about Rep. Republican’s massive budget settlement bill Passed last weekNow, they are trying to go to a bunch of houses and Senate Republican leaders Reconcile the difference Between the House and Senate versions.
House Republican bills include $2 trillion in spending cuts, some opposition says May affect Medicaid fundingaffecting millions of low-income and disabled people.
Johnson said Sunday that House Republicans are not going to touch Medicaid funds in the budget bill, telling Welker: “Don’t say me, Kristin, Kristin, ask for help on the budget solution we passed Tuesday. No one mentioned Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security.”
“The American people want us to review the country’s spending and be organized, and that’s what we have to do,” Johnson said.
“We can do both things at the same time and it doesn’t affect the interests of anyone who depends on these things and is qualified to receive them,” Johnson said.
