Waltz to Zelensky: 'He needs to tone it down and sign the deal' in exchange for military support

National security adviser Mike Waltz urged Ukraine to moderate its discourse amid rising tensions with the Trump administration. According to Waltz, senior U.S. government officials are "frustrated" by President Volodymyr Zelensky's refusal to accept a deal involving the supply the supply of rare earth minerals in exchange for military backing from Washington.

In a recent interview, Waltz explained that Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have all expressed discomfort with Zelensky's stance. According to the adviser, in a meeting with the Ukrainian leader last week, he was presented with a "really an incredible and historic" opportunity that would send a clear message to Russia in addition to strengthening Ukraine's economy. However, Ukraine has made no progress in signing the agreement.

"Why we’re getting this pushback and certainly this, kind of, as the vice president said, ‘bad-mouthing’ in the press for all the administration has done, in his first term as well, and all the United States has done for Ukraine, it’s just — it’s unacceptable," Waltz said, adding that Zelensky needed "to tone it down and take a hard look and sign that deal."

Mutual criticism and escalating tensions

The relationship between the two leaders has deteriorated rapidly, especially after Ukraine was apparently excluded from recent talks between U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia. Zelensky questioned this decision, prompting a harsh reaction from Trump, who accused him of having "started" the war.

Zelensky responded by calling the president's claims part of a "web of disinformation." Hours later, Trump posted on Truth Social that the Ukrainian ruler was a "dictator without election" who was doing a "terrible job."

The Trump administration's stance

Waltz defended the administration's approach and rejected claims that the United States was sidelining its allies. He assured that Washington communicates with Ukrainian and European officials to coordinate diplomatic efforts.

"We are consulting our allies. We’re consulting the Ukrainians. There’s a term for this in diplomacy. It’s called shuttle diplomacy, because bringing everybody to the table at once just hasn’t worked in the past," Waltz explained.

With relations at a tense point, pressure on Zelensky to reconsider his position could define the course of future negotiations between Ukraine and the United States.