Donald Trump, President of the United States, gave assurances on Thursday that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy would agree to a rare earth minerals deal ahead of his Friday visit to the White House.
In negotiations to end the Russia- Ukraine War, the Trump Administration is trying to get Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, to sign a deal that will allow the U.S. to access Ukraine’s mineral resources in return for the support it has given the country ever since the Russian invasion of 2022. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, Congress has allocated $175 billion in aid for Ukraine since 2022.
Trump stated that the agreement on minerals would be beneficial to both the U.S.A. and Ukraine and allow access for the U.S.A. to oil and gas resources “that we need for our nation.”
Trump said Thursday while meeting U.K. Premier Keir Starmer. “We are going to sign a really important agreement for us both because it will get us in that country.” In that respect, the agreement is very positive.
Trump told reporters that the peace negotiations were in their final stages, but there was no agreement. He also resisted discussing plans for a regional peacekeeping force until a deal is reached.
Trump stated, “I believe we are very far along in a deal. But we still haven’t made any deal. Since we still haven’t made a deal, I prefer not to speak about the peacekeeping issue. I like to get things done.”
Trump also said that he did not expect Russian President Vladimir Putin to break any agreements to bring peace to Ukraine.
“I don’t believe he’s going to violate his word,” Trump said. “I don’t think he’ll be back when we make a deal. I think the deal is going to hold now.”
Trump did not repeat his previous remarks calling Zelenskyy a “dictator” ahead of Friday’s White House visit by the Ukrainian leader.
“Did I say that?” Trump asked. “I can’t believe I said that. Next question.”
Trump’s administration is advancing negotiations to reach a deal that will end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. U.S. officials met their Russian counterparts on February 18. Zelenskyy told reporters, however, that Ukraine was not present at the negotiations.
Trump and Zelenskyy verbally slandered each other, with Zelenskyy accusing Trump of spreading Russian disinformation and Trump calling Zelenskyy “a dictator” who has failed his nation.
Trump said in an online post on Feb. 19: “A dictator without elections, Zelenskyy had better act fast, or else he will not have any country left. In the interim, we’re successfully negotiating a resolution to the War with Russia. This is something that only ‘TRUMP’ and the Trump Administration can accomplish.”
As part of the peace agreement, Russia is pushing for Ukraine to conduct elections nearly one year after Zelenskyy’s 5-year term had been scheduled to expire.
The Ukrainian Constitution prohibits elections during martial law. Zelenskyy is still in charge of Kyiv. Ukraine has been under martial law as of February 20, 2022.
Starmer told reporters on Thursday that the U.K. wanted to work with the U.S. to negotiate a lasting peace agreement. “We want to make sure it is a historic peace that will last and that no one breaches it.”
When Emmanuel Macron visited the White House on Monday, he expressed the same sentiments about working together with the U.S. to achieve lasting peace. He also warned the U.S. about dealing with Russia.
In an interview with “Special Report” on Monday, he stated, “We Want Peace. I think that the initiative taken by President Trump is very positive. My message, however, was caution because Ukraine needs something substantive.”
Macron stated that the arrival of Trump was a major game changer. Macron said, “I think that he can deter the U.S. from reengaging with Russia.”