- Zelenskyy left White House without signing mineral deal after heated Trump-Vance confrontation
- $3.85B in military funding remains in limbo as aid shipments face potential freeze
- European leaders accelerate security guarantee plans ahead of Ukraine ceasefire talks
The fragile US-Ukraine alliance reached a breaking point this week as President Zelenskyy's Washington visit devolved into unprecedented public acrimony. Analysts suggest the Oval Office shouting match reflects Trump's transactional approach to foreign policy, with the administration now openly considering halting military shipments. This comes despite Ukraine's urgent need for artillery systems to counter Russia's ongoing eastern offensive.
European leaders are scrambling to fill potential security gaps ahead of Sunday's emergency summit. France and Germany reportedly drafted a 10-year military support pact during Zelenskyy's London stopover. However, Eastern European NATO members like Poland warn that European stockpiles can only cover 38% of Ukraine's ammunition requirements without US participation.
The Biden administration's last-minute push to secure nearly $4 billion in allocated funds now appears strategically crucial. Pentagon sources confirm 12% of pledged armored vehicles and 9% of artillery rounds remain stateside - hardware that could prove decisive in upcoming battles. Former NATO commander James Stavridis warns: Abandoning Kyiv now would destabilize Eastern Europe for a generation.
Market analysts highlight the mineral agreement collapse as particularly damaging. Ukraine holds 7 of the world's 15 critical rare earth metals, including 22% of global lithium reserves. The failed deal delays EV battery production plans for Ford and Tesla, with manufacturers now eyeing Australian and Canadian alternatives.
Regional experts point to Hungary's recent backchannel negotiations with Moscow as evidence of shifting alliances. Budapest blocked EU sanctions on 3 Russian tech firms last week, while Serbia approved new natural gas contracts with Gazprom. This fragmentation complicates Zelenskyy's push for unified European security guarantees.