Trump meets Polish, Argentine leaders as Ukraine talks intensify
Argentina's President Javier Milei (L) and US President Donald Trump gesturing as they pose for a picture in the framework of the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort Convention Center at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, United States on February 22, 2025. (AFP Photo)
U.S. President Donald Trump held separate meetings with Polish President Andrzej Duda and Argentine President Javier Milei during the Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday, as discussions over Ukraine’s future intensify behind closed doors.
The White House released photographs of Trump’s meeting with Duda, characterizing the discussion as a reaffirmation of the “close alliance” between the United States and Poland. During his subsequent CPAC address, Trump praised the Polish leader as “a fantastic man and a great friend,” while commending Poland’s increased defense spending.
The high-level diplomatic engagement comes at a delicate moment in U.S.-Ukraine relations. Recent U.S.-Russia talks in Riyadh, which proceeded without Ukrainian representation, have sparked concern in Kyiv.
A U.S. proposal seeking access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals and natural resources was rejected by Ukrainian officials, who cited insufficient security guarantees.
Trump suggests deal with Ukraine ‘pretty close’
Despite this setback, Trump expressed optimism during his CPAC speech, suggesting that negotiations with Ukraine were “pretty close to a deal.” This statement follows a series of diplomatic maneuvers, including discussions between Duda and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, which the Polish leader described on social media as a “candid conversation.”
The Polish-Ukrainian talks came after Duda’s meetings with Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Gen. Keith Kellogg, highlighting Poland’s potential role as an intermediary in ongoing negotiations.
In a separate development, Trump’s meeting with Argentine President Milei resulted in an invitation for Milei to visit the White House in the coming months, according to White House officials.
