Trump said the deal would help Washington recover hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Kiev.
President Donald Trump said Friday that his contract with Ukraine is almost complete and that he will grant access to US rare earth minerals in exchange for continuing US military aid. Ukrainian President Voldimi Zelenki has also expressed optimism, confirming that negotiators from both countries are working to finalize fair conditions for Kiev.
Speaking to reporters in the oval office after swearing to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on February 21, Trump said, “We’ll sign the agreement for the next fairly short period,” and said, “I think we’re pretty close.” ” he added. . ”
Trump stressed that the “keep us” agreement in Ukraine ensures Washington recovers between $400 billion and $500 billion in aid in Kiev. He has donated $100 billion to Ukraine, where European countries donated $100 billion, primarily to Ukraine through loans that are repaid, but Washington provided $300 billion in hopes of repayment.
The president said that European allies should make more contributions and that financial burdens should be shared more equitably.
“I think we have to be equal,” he said.
He pointed out that the Ukrainian war would have a greater impact on Europe than in the United States, which was insulated by the “large and beautiful seas between them.”
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“I think they want that. They feel good about it,” Trump said of the deal.
“They’re very happy about it,” he says, “We’re going to get the money back.”
Zelenskyy initially rejected the US proposal focusing on mineral cooperation, calling it “not a serious conversation” and said it had not served Ukraine’s interests. He rejected a request for mineral wealth worth $500 billion in repayments to wartime aid, saying Washington hadn’t provided that amount. He also criticized the proposal that Ukraine does not have security guarantees, which it considers essential to a long-term peace with Russia. The deal Trump promised to his broker.
Despite initial concerns, Zelenskyy confirmed negotiations are ongoing on Friday.
“Today, Ukraine and the US teams are working on a draft intergovernmental agreement,” Zelenkie said at the nightly video address. “This agreement has the potential to strengthen our relationship, and most importantly, the details should be placed so that it works. I would like to ask for the results and fair results. I hope.”
Zelenskyy’s remarks came after a conversation between his Chief of Staff Andrii Yermak and US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.
According to the Ukrainian Presidential Office, the two discussed “cooperative positions” in bilateral relations. Yermak “emphas emphasized the importance of maintaining bilateral cooperation and high-level relationships between Ukraine and the United States.”
Meanwhile, Waltz suggested that an agreement was imminent. “This is the bottom line. President Zelensky is going to sign that contract. You’ll see it in a very short term,” he said on Friday, conservative political action meeting (CPAC) near Washington. He spoke to.
Mineral negotiations take place amidst the friction between Trump and Zelensky over an approach to end the war. Trump recently referenced the decision of the Ukrainian leader to brand Zelenskyy a “no-election dictator” and to serve without calling the wartime vote.
In response, Zelensky said Trump was trapped in a “false information bubble.” Ukrainian leaders later said they were easing his stance and relying on the unity of pragmatism in Ukraine, Europe and America.
Trump on Friday reiterated his determination to mediate a peace deal, saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky must negotiate directly.
“What do you know, so do they have to get together? We want to stop killing millions of people,” Trump said. “That’s why I want to see a ceasefire,” he continued.
Zelenskyy has long been wary of biased peace agreements with Moscow, which lacks strong security guarantees to stop future Russian invasions.
Ukraine has considerable deposits of strategic minerals, including uranium, lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements, important for battery, technology and aerospace applications.
