Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on Friday to sign a preliminary agreement on Ukraine’s mineral resources, though key security concerns remain unresolved.
While Zelensky welcomed the deal as a step toward economic partnership, he stressed that any agreement must include US security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression.
However, Trump ruled out binding commitments, insisting that Europe should take more responsibility for Ukraine’s security.
In a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Trump claimed that deploying American workers to extract rare earth metals in Ukraine would offer “automatic security” to Kyiv. He also dismissed Ukraine’s longstanding aspiration of joining NATO, aligning with Russia’s view that the issue was a key driver of the ongoing war.
“We’re going to make a deal with Russia and Ukraine to stop killing people,” Trump told reporters, hinting at a possible ceasefire negotiation.
Zelensky pushed back, warning that without firm security assurances, “we won’t have a ceasefire, nothing will work.”
Unclear Deal Terms
The agreement, formally backed by Ukraine’s government on Wednesday evening, remains vague on specifics. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the deal would include an investment fund to support Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction.
Initially, Washington sought access to $500 billion worth of Ukrainian mineral wealth, but Zelensky rejected it.
While Trump hailed the agreement as a way to secure financial returns for US aid, Zelensky described it as a “framework agreement”, with hopes for further negotiations.
