Reuters reports that US President Donald Trump has confirmed that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is visiting Washington this Friday in order to sign a contract on rare earth minerals. Kyiv views the agreement as being crucial for securing US support during ongoing peace talks with Russia.
Trump has signaled, however, that Washington will not provide comprehensive security guarantees and that Europe must take more responsibility.
According to Ukraine’s Prime Minister, the agreement is “preliminary”. It would allot a part of Ukraine’s minerals revenues into a joint US-Ukraine account.
This deal is an important part of Kyiv’s strategy in order to keep the American support, as Trump wants a quick resolution of the conflict.
On Thursday, the US-Russian peace talks (excluding Ukraine) will continue.
In a statement about the meeting to come, Trump stated that Zelenskyy will sign an agreement covering rare-earth minerals and related matters. However, he downplayed the expectations for a wider security pact.
I won’t make any security guarantees above–very little. Trump said, “We’re going have Europe take care of that.” He did not elaborate.
Zelenskyy in his video nightly address stressed the need for US security guarantees to stop future Russian aggression. He also highlighted the importance of continuing American assistance.
It is vital that American aid continues. This is true for me, and it is true for the rest of us. “We need strength on the road to peace,” said he.
Mike Johnson, the Republican House Speaker, recently said that he had “no appetite for” another Ukraine funding bill.
Trump had earlier called Zelenskyy “dictator”, and warned that Kyiv should move quickly toward peace, or else risk losing the conflict.
Zelenskyy voiced concerns about the financial aspects of the deal, stating that Ukraine shouldn’t be treated like a creditor who is expected to pay back hundreds of millions of dollars of past military assistance.
He said that “this agreement may be part of the future security guarantee…but we must understand the larger vision.”
This deal may be a huge success, or pass without a fuss. The big success will depend on the conversation we have with President Trump.
Ukraine is still hopeful that US security will be guaranteed for a long time, particularly in case of peace with Russia.
Trump’s claims of $350 billion worth of assistance, despite Congress having approved $175 billion for the invasion in 2022 have raised questions regarding future commitments.
While diplomacy is ongoing, the fighting has intensified on the ground.
Ukraine continues to be targeted by missiles and drones, as the conflict escalates into Europe’s most deadly war since World War II.
The post Ukraine and US rare earth mineral deal: Trump confirms Zelenskyy’s Washington visit could be updated as new developments unfold
