The Situation Room - March 5th

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I’m Daniel, and welcome to The Situation Room! We cover the most high impact geopolitical developments every Wednesday!

Today’s topics:

• White House Wants An Apology

• $840 Billion Dollar Re-Arm Plea by EU

• BlackRock Strikes Deal To Buy Ports on Panama Canal

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White House Wants An Apology

_{By: Daniel Murrah, Staff Writer For Atlas}

The diplomatic fallout from last week's contentious Oval Office meeting continues to deepen as President Donald Trump is now demanding a formal public apology from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before any further negotiations can take place, per Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy. The standoff threatens to derail a critical minerals deal that was on the verge of being signed before talks dramatically collapsed.

According to the Fox News White House correspondent, a senior administration official has confirmed that "nothing is gonna happen with this minerals deal until Zelensky goes in front of cameras and makes an explicit public apology for the way he behaved in the Oval Office with that meeting."

The Ultimatum

The demand represents a significant escalation in what has quickly become one of the most bizarre diplomatic incidents of Trump's 2nd presidency. What was intended to be a straightforward signing ceremony for a U.S.-Ukraine minerals agreement instead devolved into a heated public argument that ended with Zelensky being asked to leave the White House early.

Trump Admin’s Mounting Frustration

The fracture has exposed a growing "disconnect" between Washington and Kyiv, as Doocy described it, with Trump administration officials fuming over what they viewed as disrespectful behavior from the Ukrainian leader.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio set the tone hours after the failed meeting, suggesting Zelensky should apologize "for wasting our time" and for "turning this thing into the fiasco for him that it became." National Security Advisor Mike Waltz went further in a Sunday CNN appearance, questioning whether Zelensky is "ready to transition Ukraine to an end to this war, and to negotiate and have to compromise."

Waltz added that "we need a leader that can deal with us, eventually deal with the Russians, and end this war" – remarks widely interpreted as suggesting the administration might prefer a change in leadership in Kyiv.

Zelensky's Response

For his part, Zelensky has stopped short of offering the explicit apology Trump desires, though he has expressed "regret" about how the meeting unfolded. On Tuesday, he stated on social media that the way the White House meeting turned out was "regrettable" and that he wants to "make things right" with Trump.

"My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership to get a peace that lasts," Zelensky wrote on X. He proposed initial steps including "the release of prisoners and truce in the sky" along with a ban on missiles and long-range drones targeting civilian infrastructure.

The Ukrainian president's attire reportedly contributed to Trump's irritation. White House officials had apparently advised Zelensky's team that he should wear a suit to the meeting, but the Ukrainian leader arrived in his now-signature casual black outfit. Trump pointedly remarked, "He is all dressed up today," when Zelensky arrived at the West Wing.

What’s At Stake

The proposed minerals deal would have been transformative for both nations. It would grant the United States access to Ukraine's vast reserves of rare earth minerals – critical resources for advanced technology and defense applications – in exchange for continued American support. For Ukraine, fighting a defensive war against Russian invasion for nearly three years, the agreement represented a vital lifeline.

Some in Congress remain optimistic that the relationship can be salvaged. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus, expressed confidence that the minerals deal will still "be signed in short order."

"We are 100% getting this train back on the tracks," Fitzpatrick wrote on social media Monday. "This mineral deal will be signed in short order, which will lead to a strong long-term economic partnership between the United States and Ukraine, and which will ultimately and naturally lead to security assistance."

However, one of Trump's latest posts on Truth Social suggests a hardening position: "This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!" Trump wrote, apparently responding to something Zelensky had said. "It is what I was saying, this guy doesn't want there to be Peace as long as he has America's backing."

The drama has sparked concern among America's European allies, who have collectively provided billions in aid to Ukraine but acknowledge they cannot sustain Ukraine's defense without U.S. support. Trump referenced this in his social media statement, noting that "Europe, in the meeting they had with Zelensky, stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the U.S. - Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia."

The public demand for an apology places Zelensky in a difficult position. Acceding to Trump's demand could be seen as weakness at home, where Ukrainians are fighting for their national survival. Refusing could cost Ukraine its most powerful ally at a critical moment in the war.

As both sides maneuver, the clock continues to tick. Russia currently controls approximately 20 percent of Ukrainian territory according to several worldwide institutions (non-government org’s).

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