Zelensky yelled at the U.S. Treasury Secretary during discussions on the mineral resources deal – FT

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shouted at U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant during his visit to Kyiv while they were discussing the resource extraction deal.

This was reported by The Financial Times, citing sources.

According to the publication’s sources, “tensions flared” in the office, and Zelensky was “very angry.”

“A low voice shouting inside was unmistakably recognizable,” FT writes.

Bessant demanded that Zelensky sign the deal immediately, but the Ukrainian president refused. He then told journalists—while standing next to a “noticeably shaken Bessant, whose hands were trembling”—that Kyiv would discuss the deal in Munich with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and other American officials.

Earlier, Trump stated that Zelensky was “rude” to Bessant and postponed the meeting because he “overslept.”

Bessant previously stated that if a deal were reached with Kyiv on resource extraction, Washington would gain control over Ukraine’s reconstruction fund, which would help prevent corruption.

Meanwhile, at yesterday’s press conference, when discussing the resource deal, Zelensky effectively accused Trump of trying to saddle Ukraine with a $500 billion debt, stating that Kyiv would not sign such conditions.

However, Trump’s special representative, Steve Witkoff, stated that Kyiv would sign the resource deal with Washington within a week.