The White House is reaffirming its commitment to transparency and diplomacy following a high-stakes meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The exchange, which quickly became tense, centered around a proposed mineral deal and efforts to bring peace to the region. President Trump, pushing for a resolution, made it clear that the U.S. is prioritizing strategic negotiations over endless conflict.
Zelenskyy, however, appeared unprepared for a peace-focused discussion, instead taking a confrontational approach in front of the media. Vice President JD Vance called out the move, questioning why the Ukrainian leader would attempt to pressure the U.S. in such a public setting. The meeting, initially set to be a diplomatic milestone, instead led to the cancellation of a planned joint press conference and working lunch.
Harrison Fields, Principal Deputy Press Secretary, joined The Joe Pags Show to provide exclusive insight into what unfolded behind the scenes. “He came here and he totally misplayed his cards. He came to a room that was ready to negotiate a peace deal, and he obviously wanted to continue some form of a war in which President Trump doesn’t want to continue,” Fields explained.
Fields emphasized that President Trump remains committed to securing peace between Ukraine and Russia. “President Trump was like, ‘You’ve got a new sheriff in town. Enough is enough.’ We need to bring Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin in the same room and get peace done, and it seemed like Zelenskyy wasn’t prepared for peace today. It was very disappointing.”
Despite the setback, discussions are ongoing. Fields noted that President Trump “is the only adult in the room when it comes to him and Zelenskyy, and he will make sure that world peace is achieved in one fashion or another.”
The meeting’s abrupt end also sparked reactions from political figures, with some on the left praising Zelenskyy. Fields dismissed the criticism, stating, “We don’t take people who are sleeping with Chinese spies seriously here at the White House,” in reference to Rep. Eric Swalwell.
President Trump’s administration remains open to negotiations, but as Fields put it, “Zelenskyy has got to dig very deep and realize that his country is not in a strategically strong position. He has to come to the table in good faith and find a pathway to peace because that’s where the president is at.”
For an exclusive breakdown of the meeting and what comes next, watch the full interview with Harrison Fields above.