Bessent accuses Zelenskyy of derailing subsoil deal, recalls Trump feud
Photo: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant (Getty Images)
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recalled a heated exchange at the White House during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit. He accused Zelenskyy of failing to sign the subsoil agreement in an interview with controversial journalist Tucker Carlson.
"He made it to the Oval Office and destroyed what should have been the easiest deal in the world," Bessent said.
According to the treasury secretary, Zelenskyy allegedly promised three times to sign the agreement but never did.
"Zelenskyy was in the mood to sign the agreement that day. We had a spirited discussion, and I said to him: "You have 50 reporters out there. I'm here to show that there are no daylight between the American people, the Russian people… excuse me, the Ukrainian people, between the American leadership and Ukrainian leadership... What are we going to go out and tell these people?" And he said: "Tell them I'm going to sign the deal in Munich." He didn't sign it there," Bessent complained.
According to the treasury secretary, everything was prepared for signing the deal between Ukraine and the US.
During the interview, Carlson asked why Zelenskyy had, in his view, been defiant toward US officials. Bessent responded: "He was a performer, a kind of vaudevillian. And he was an ordinary person thrown into fraud times, rose to the occasion, was heroic, and, I think, is stuck. Under tremendous pressure."
Bessent also suggested that "some of the people around him, he is not getting the best advice, and his advisors are not perfect."
The treasury secretary emphasized that the mineral resources agreement would be beneficial for both countries and expressed hope that it would be signed soon.
He also stated, that the Ukrainian technical team is expected early next week, and Bessent hopes they will sign this agreement and return to a mutually beneficial situation.
Trump and Zelenskyy's dispute
On March 28, Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the White House and met with US President Donald Trump. During their discussion in the Oval Office, a heated exchange broke out between Zelenskyy, Trump, and Vice President J.D. Vance.
The dispute revolved around the war and Ukraine's alleged lack of gratitude for US assistance.
Following the altercation, Zelenskyy left the White House without signing the anticipated mineral resources agreement.
European partners sided with Zelenskyy, and Western media reported that Trump was furious, believing that the Ukrainian president should have remedied the situation. The conflict was eventually smoothed over.
