ZELENSKYY SAYS NO TO TRUMP—“AMERICA WILL NOT EAT UKRAINE ALIVE”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 28, 2025, 16:00

Zelenskyy Says No to Trump in Washington: “America Will Not Eat Ukraine Alive”

Washington, D.C.—February 28, 2025—In a decisive move during a high-stakes meeting at the Oval Office in the White House, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declined to sign an exclusive U.S.-Ukraine minerals agreement, reinforcing Ukraine’s sovereignty over its natural resources. At the meeting, Zelenskyy also unveiled a new national symbol—the Iron Hedgehog—representing his nation’s resilience in the face of external pressures. The unexpected announcement, made at the conclusion of a high-stakes White House meeting with President Donald Trump, signaled Kyiv’s growing determination to protect its sovereignty and chart its own course in the global order.

The meeting, intended to finalize an agreement granting U.S. firms privileged access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, took a dramatic turn when Zelenskyy declined to sign the deal, citing concerns over Ukraine’s long-term economic independence. “We value our friendship with the United States, but Ukraine is not a resource colony,” Zelenskyy declared. “We must ensure that our natural wealth benefits our own people first and foremost.” The proposed agreement, which aimed to grant U.S. firms privileged access to Ukraine’s mineral reserves, was positioned as a step toward strengthening economic ties. However, Zelenskyy firmly rejected the terms, emphasizing Ukraine’s right to manage its resources without external control.

“Ukraine will not be a feast for foreign interests,” Zelenskyy stated. “We welcome cooperation, but not at the cost of our sovereignty. We have fought too hard to be independent.”

For Ukraine, navigating between empires has never been a matter of choice, but of survival. Caught between the ambitions of global powers, it is a nation whose sovereignty has too often been defined by external interests rather than its own will. Today, Zelenskyy made clear that this would no longer be the case. As he sat across from President Trump in Washington, declining to sign what was presumed to be a foregone conclusion, he reasserted Ukraine’s right to self-determination—an act of defiance that startled allies and adversaries alike.

After the cameras were switched off and the room braced for further negotiations, Zelenskyy reached to a member of his staff and placed a small, iron-cast figure of a hedgehog on the White House Oval Office conference table. Confused glances were exchanged. Then, with a smile, he explained:

“Ukraine is like the Iron Hedgehog—small but impossible to crush, defensive yet fearless, always ready to raise its spines against those who seek to consume it. Our people do not surrender; they adapt, resist, and endure. Just as the Czech hedgehogs once stopped tanks from advancing, this symbol will remind the world that Ukraine does not bow to empires—neither old nor new.”

The hedgehog, a creature known for its ability to protect itself from predators, now takes on a new meaning for Ukraine: a nation that may be smaller than its adversaries but is unbreakable in spirit. The connection to the famed Czech hedgehog tank traps—used by Ukraine in defense against Russian aggression—further reinforced the symbolism, drawing a parallel between national resilience and historical resistance. The Iron Hedgehog sculpture, crafted by international artist Lanfranco Aceti, incorporates materials such as rare earth elements, reclaimed bullet casings, and fragments of destroyed military equipment, symbolizing resilience and transformation.

Strategic Implications and the Future of Ukraine-U.S. Relations

While the rejection of the minerals deal does not signal a breakdown in Ukraine-U.S. relations, it does highlight Kyiv’s shift toward a more assertive and independent geopolitical stance. U.S. officials expressed frustration over the stalled negotiations, with one White House insider stating, “We expected Ukraine to come to the table ready to make a deal, not to redefine itself on the world stage.”

Despite this, both sides appear to be engaging in closed-door diplomacy to continue discussions. The Trump administration had previously linked the minerals deal to expedited military aid, but Kyiv has signaled that future agreements must be equitable partnerships, not transactions of dependency.

In the coming weeks, analysts expect Ukraine to leverage the Iron Hedgehog narrative in diplomatic engagements, reinforcing its commitment to sovereignty, economic independence, and strategic, rather than transactional, alliances.

As the meeting concluded, Zelenskyy left the Iron Hedgehog statue on the table—a silent but powerful reminder that Ukraine is not a prize to be won, but a nation that chooses its own fate.

This press release is not an official statement from the Ukrainian Delegation—but in a different world, perhaps it should have been.

Let’s discuss. Should Ukraine sell itself to the US?

The Artist Who Inspired a Political Movement

This radical realignment draws inspiration from political artist Lanfranco Aceti, whose work has consistently challenged Western power structures and exposed the limits of institutional politics. Aceti, known for his provocative artistic interventions, has played a pivotal role in reshaping global discourse on power, sovereignty, and artistic agency.

In a pointed critique of EU and U.S. leadership, Aceti stated:

“The EU and US have long operated as a short-sighted and ineffectual bureaucracy. It is time to move beyond inept political theatrics and embrace a new paradigm—one driven by intelligent, long-term action in the true interest of the people.”

By blurring the boundaries between political satire and diplomatic provocation, Aceti’s work has not only challenged prevailing narratives but also galvanized new conversations on the intersection of art and activism in global power dynamics.

About Lanfranco Aceti

Lanfranco Aceti is a renowned political artist whose provocative interventions have challenged institutional authority, neoliberal governance, and Western power structures. His work, known for its ability to blur the lines between satire and political activism, has influenced global discourse on sovereignty, democracy, and the role of art in statecraft.