Washington, D.C. – March 1, 2025 – Support continues to flood in for President Donald J. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance after a high-stakes Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marking a pivotal moment in the Trump Administration’s pursuit of peace in Ukraine.
On Feb. 28, President Trump told NTD that Zelenskyy had told the administration that he wanted peace and wanted to return after being kicked out of the White House for reneging on a deal.
Video footage from Feb 28:
According to a Saturday press statement from the White House:
In the wake of the tense discussions, House Speaker Mike Johnson underscored Trump’s commitment to American interests, stating, “Thanks to President Trump, the days of America being taken advantage of and disrespected are OVER. The death and destruction of the Russian-provoked war needs to stop immediately, and only our American President can put these two countries on a path to lasting peace. President Zelenskyy needed to acknowledge that and accept the extraordinary mineral rights partnership proposal that President Trump put on the table.”
The proposal in question, an economic partnership granting mineral rights concessions to U.S. companies in Ukraine, was reportedly rejected by Zelenskyy. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz criticized Zelenskyy’s approach, asserting, “It’s not clear that Zelenskyy truly wants to stop the fighting. He came in, even though he was warned not to, determined to litigate all of that … This was the wrong approach, wrong time in history, and definitely the wrong president to try to do this.”
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized Trump’s singular role in seeking an end to the war: “The only person on the planet who is actively trying to bring an end to this conflict is named Donald Trump, the President of the United States.”
Trump allies expressed frustration over Zelenskyy’s refusal to sign the deal, with White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller remarking, “The way that President Trump defended Americans after YEARS of being fleeced and abused and taken advantage of and taken for granted — millions of American hearts swelled with overflowing pride today to watch President Trump put Zelenskyy in his place.”
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard echoed these sentiments, warning of the risks of escalation: “Zelensky has been trying to drag the United States into a nuclear war with Russia/WW3 for years now, and no one has called him on it. Thank you, Vice President @JDVance, for speaking out so forcefully and clearly, about the necessity of diplomacy.”
The administration’s stance was further reinforced by UN Ambassador-designate Elise Stefanik, who declared, “President Trump will ALWAYS stand up for the American people – especially in the Oval Office. Peace through strength is back on the world stage because of President Trump’s bold and strong leadership.”
Senator Eric Schmitt noted the shift in U.S. foreign policy under Trump, stating, “Zelensky was probably used to talking this way to American leaders. Apparently, no one told him that things have changed. The age of America Last foreign policy is over. From this day forward, it’s going to be only America First.”
Other key figures weighed in on the encounter. Senator Lindsey Graham praised Trump and Vance for their unwavering stance, saying, “I have never been more proud of the president. I was very proud of JD Vance, standing up for our country.” CNN’s Scott Jennings was blunt in his critique of Zelenskyy’s behavior, commenting, “All Zelenskyy had to do today was put on a tie, show up, smile, say thank you, sign the papers, and have lunch. That’s it — and he couldn’t do that.”
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, responding to the growing backlash against Zelenskyy, said, “[Zelenskyy] refuses to recognize the practical reality of this war. It has been going on for years, his countrymen are dying, and the people who have been funding this effort — the American people — are sick and tired of footing this bill.”
Congresswoman Victoria Spartz, a Ukrainian-born Republican, expressed disappointment in Zelenskyy’s actions: “It’s such a disservice to the Ukrainian people to play hero and politics and trying to increase his rating … Being so insulting to the American people after how much was done by us for Ukraine and for Europe, I can’t believe it.”
The resounding consensus from Trump administration officials and allies signals a decisive shift in America’s foreign policy approach under President Trump. Representative Kevin Hern summed up the administration’s resolve: “President Trump is determined to end the war in Ukraine. He is determined for the world to get back at peace, as it was when he was in office before.”
With Zelenskyy’s resistance to the proposed agreement and the Trump Administration’s firm stance on prioritizing American interests, the next steps in U.S.-Ukraine relations remain uncertain. However, one thing is clear: President Trump is not backing down from his vision of peace through strength.
On Fox News Sunday chimed in that they expect to see a public apology: