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​Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to act like the leader of a global superpower instead of the wartime president of a nation that—let’s be honest—wouldn’t still exist today without the support of the United States. His most recent comments make it clear that he’s forgotten who’s kept the lights on in Kyiv, and more importantly, who holds the cards at the negotiating table.

In an interview with 60 Minutes, Zelensky extended an invitation to President Donald J. Trump to visit Ukraine before any peace negotiations with Russia take place. “Please, before any kind of decisions, any kind of forms of negotiations, come to see people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children destroyed or dead,” Zelensky said. It’s a move that on the surface sounds like a plea for compassion—but underneath, it's another public attempt to shame and pressure Trump into further U.S. involvement on Ukraine’s terms.

But Trump is not interested in being manipulated by emotion or optics. He sees the bigger picture. Ukraine has been propped up almost entirely by American tax dollars, weapons, intelligence, and diplomacy. The country is only in a position to resist Russian aggression today because the United States chose to support them. Without U.S. military and economic aid, there would be no Ukraine left to visit.

Yet despite all this, Zelensky seems determined to assert himself as an “equal” on the world stage. During ongoing negotiations regarding access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals—resources that are vital to U.S. industry and national security—Zelensky rebuffed a request from Secretary Scott Bessent to finalize the deal, and he did so with visible arrogance. “He told me, ‘You need to sign this now,’” Zelensky recounted. “I told him, ‘Stop tapping your finger and let’s have a serious discussion.’ I think he expected a very different kind of meeting. But I don’t see Ukraine as some second-tier nation. We speak as equals—or we don’t speak at all.”

That statement is as delusional as it is disrespectful. Ukraine may want to be seen as an equal, but the cold truth is this: Ukraine is not on equal footing with the United States, nor has it ever been. America has spent tens of billions of dollars arming and supporting Ukraine. It’s our military, our industrial base, our logistical support that’s keeping their war effort afloat. Ukraine doesn’t sit at the global power table because of its own strength—it sits there because we gave them the seat.

President Trump responded as only he can—with clarity and confidence. “You don’t start a war against somebody that is 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles,” he said. It was a stern but honest reminder that strategic miscalculations have consequences, and no amount of Western aid will make Ukraine a military equal to Russia, let alone the United States.

Zelensky’s posturing isn’t just ungrateful—it’s dangerous. He’s playing a high-stakes game with the world’s most powerful country, forgetting that American goodwill is not infinite. Every time he drags his feet on a deal, lectures our officials, or demands more weapons and cash, he chips away at the patience of the American people, who are already questioning how much longer they’re expected to fund a war that shows no sign of ending.

What’s especially rich is that Zelensky, a former comedian with no military or foreign policy background, is now attempting to condescend to American diplomats and demand parity with the United States. The only reason his voice matters in this conflict is because America gave him the microphone. Without U.S. support, he wouldn’t be negotiating with Russia—he’d be surrendering to it.

President Trump understands this better than anyone. His approach isn’t about punishing Ukraine—it’s about bringing a sense of reality back into the conversation. Trump wants peace, not endless war. He wants strategic outcomes, not sentimental theater. And if Zelensky refuses to act like a partner and continues to act like a rival, then Trump is right to remind him of who actually holds the power.

Let’s also not forget what’s at stake here for the United States. The rare earth mineral deal is a major opportunity to secure critical resources for America’s future—resources that could reduce our reliance on adversarial nations like China. That deal, like many others, was offered in good faith to Ukraine as part of a mutually beneficial partnership. But instead of appreciating the offer, Zelensky treats it like a hostage negotiation, demanding more respect, more leverage, more time.

This isn’t how allies behave. It’s how opportunists behave.

If Zelensky wants continued U.S. support, he needs to remember the basic facts: this war is not about stroking his ego or making him a global celebrity. It’s about preventing regional instability and protecting broader Western interests. If he keeps mistaking America's generosity for weakness, he may soon find himself without the backing that’s allowed him to hold the line for this long.

The United States doesn’t owe Ukraine anything more than what’s in our national interest. President Trump sees that clearly, and he's unafraid to say it out loud. And if Zelensky keeps demanding that we treat him like an equal, he might just find out what happens when America finally decides to walk away from the table.