Rep. Mark Green, Michael Patrick Leahy

Tennessee U.S. Rep. Mark Green: Ukrainian President Zelensky’s Performance in the Oval Office Showed his ‘Addiction to the Blank Check Created an Entitlement’

Mar 6, 2025

Tennessee U.S. Representative Mark Green (R-TN-07) said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s “addiction to the blank check” the U.S. provided to Ukraine to assist in its fight against Russia under the previous administration “created an entitlement,” pointing to the foreign leader’s performative antics at the White House last week.

On Friday, Zelensky left Washington D.C. empty-handed after being ordered by President Donald Trump to depart the White House after a disastrous Oval Office meeting unfolded in front of the media.

While meeting with Zelensky inside the Oval Office, Trump said the Ukrainian President was being “disrespectful” for his pushback against the U.S., suggesting a diplomatic solution could be reached with Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

In the days after Zelensky left the U.S. without signing an anticipated minerals deal, he traveled to London, where he met with a group of over European leaders who all announced their continued support for Ukraine in its war.

On Sunday, Zelensky maintained that the end of Ukraine’s war with Russia is “very, very far away,” however, sent a letter to Trump on Tuesday apologizing for his antics in the Oval Office last week and said “Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer” after Trump announced the end to all military aid to Ukraine.

On Thursday’s edition of The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, Green, who also chairs the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, said Zelensky’s actions over the past week have proved that the foreign leader had developed an “addiction” to an endless flow of cash from the U.S. under the Biden administration and “chose the wrong path” when he attempted to undercut Trump’s efforts for peace.

“Zelensky’s initial response after Friday’s meeting was that the fight’s going to last for a long time. That’s an untenable position for American support. Ukraine doesn’t have enough lives and we don’t have the dollars to keep this going,” Green explained.

“He has to reach some kind of an acceptable peace and threading that needle is not easy, but to sit down and have peace and to be the negotiator Donald Trump has to talk to Russia. I get it. Vladimir Putin is a war criminal…but if you want to win this battle, the two have to talk. I’m glad Trump has asserted himself into it because this blank check is gone. Zelensky’s addiction to the blank check created an entitlement and when he got to be on the biggest stage of his lifetime, the actor chose the wrong path,” Green added.

When it comes to the minerals deal Zelensky previously said he would sign while in D.C. last week, Green said he has information that suggests a fresh minerals agreement has since been made and could be signed as soon as next week.

“I think there will be a deal reached next week,” Green said.

Green went on to say that a deal involving Americans mining minerals on the ground in Ukraine “has to happen.”

“Trump is operating at levels most people don’t understand…This deal has got to happen with Americans mining on the ground. It’s great for the people of Ukraine, it’s great for potentially bringing peace, and I think it will because it’ll give Putin an excuse,” Green explained.

“Putin’s looking for a way out and saving face. Now, I don’t necessarily want to give that to him, but in order to bring peace you have to, again, thread the needle. This is what Trump has to do, so a thousand Americans on the ground gives Putin an excuse to not do anything,” Green added.

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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Rep. Mark Green” by Rep. Mark Green.