It is now known that the agreement on uncommon earth minerals could have been signed by Zeleński in Kiev during a visit by General Keith Kellog, who negotiated it on behalf of the US. This is the Ukrainian side, contrary to Kellogg's suggestion, that the Trump gathering with Zelensky in the White home should take place first. This was surely meant to emphasize the importance of Zelenski, who thus wanted to show that he was talking to Trump as equal to, alternatively than as a petent, to whom the courier delivers the contract to sign. Only that specified a setting of the case was incompatible with Trump's perspective, for which Zelenski is simply a petent and should behave according to his position. It is possible to criticise Trump's brutal diplomacy style, but it is rather clear and Trump and Vance's reactions during the gathering with Zelensk in the Oval Office were not surprising.
