- Bipartisan Senate group reaffirms support for Ukraine during DC meeting
- $500B minerals agreement collapses after Trump-Zelenskyy shouting match
- Sen. Graham reverses stance, calls for Ukrainian leadership change
- Klobuchar/Coons defend Zelenskyy against White House accusations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's high-stakes Washington visit took dramatic turns Friday as bipartisan Senate support clashed with White House hostilities. The day began with Republican and Democratic lawmakers presenting a united front during a Capitol Hill meeting, where Zelenskyy received assurances of continued military and economic assistance. Senators highlighted Ukraine's strategic importance as Europe's largest repository of lithium and rare earth metals, resources critical for electric vehicle production and defense technologies.
The mood shifted dramatically during afternoon Oval Office negotiations when discussions about mineral rights triggered heated exchanges. Vice President J.D. Vance accused Zelenskyy of financial ingratituderegarding reconstruction cost-sharing proposals, while President Trump demanded immediate repayment terms for Patriot missile systems. Security officials reported voice levels reaching 90 decibels during the 38-minute confrontation, ultimately prompting cancellation of a planned economic agreement signing ceremony.
Senator Lindsey Graham's remarkable reversal highlighted deepening political fractures. After morning remarks praising the minerals deal's potential to create 85,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs, the South Carolina Republican later told reporters, Zelenskyy's conduct makes continued partnership untenable.This contrasts sharply with Democratic senators' social media defense of Ukraine's leader, with Chris Coons emphasizing Zelenskyy's 23 public expressions of gratitude to American taxpayers since 2022.
Industry analysts warn the collapsed agreement could delay critical mineral supplies needed for 17 major U.S. tech and auto sector projects. The proposed partnership would have granted American companies first-right access to Ukraine's estimated $12.4 trillion mineral reserves while funding reconstruction through resource royalties. Eastern European security experts suggest the breakdown could push Ukraine toward alternative Chinese investment, potentially altering NATO's strategic material supply chains.
Despite White House tensions, congressional leaders from both parties indicate potential legislative maneuvers to bypass executive branch objections. A proposed Ukraine Economic Partnership Act circulating in Senate committees would create separate funding mechanisms for military and reconstruction aid, with 38 cosponsors already committed. As Zelenskyy returns to Kyiv empty-handed, global markets reacted sharply with lithium futures rising 9% on fears of prolonged supply chain disruptions.