Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky met US President Donald Trump at the White House today, as both leaders discussed a minerals deal for the United States as part of the ongoing negotiations of a possible truce in the years-long war in Ukraine.
The meeting comes amid heightened tensions after President Trump earlier called the Ukrainian President a “dictator” and blamed him for “starting the war” with Russia. He however, took back his words a day before the meeting, saying “did I really say that?” and commended Zelensky for his bravery.
As the talks began, Ukraine’s President Zelensky urged Donald Trump that during peace talks “there should be no compromises with a killer on our territory”, in an apparent reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin, but President Trump made it amply clear that “Ukraine will have to make compromises in a truce with Russia.”
Before the meeting began, President Zelensky had said that “I think President Trump is on our side”. He also told the US President that the US protecting Ukraine from Russian threats was “absolutely crucial” for peacekeepers.
Donald Trump said that “a truce with Russia is fairly close” and that the deal allowing US access to Ukraine’s natural resources is “very fair”.
Signing of a resources deal will give the United States access to rare-earth and other critical minerals as part of an overall plan to help Ukraine recover after a truce in the war with Russia.
THE MINERALS DEAL
The agenda of today’s meeting primarily focuses on this minerals deal for the United States in return for Washington’s assurance of providing Kyiv with the security it needs against Russia. The deal is important as it forms the foundation of future talks on finding a peace deal for the war in Ukraine, which has now been on for more than three years.
The US, which shares the maximum burden among all NATO allies to provide a security cover across Europe, has been calling for all stakeholders to significantly enhance their share of the military and financial burden. Donald Trump has threatened that he will even consider withdrawing from providing security to Europe should everyone not contribute.
President Trump has said in the past that he does not see any benefit for Washington in staying involved in Ukraine since “Europe has a guarantee on what it has spent on Ukraine, but the US does not”. Amid all this, European leaders, with President Zelensky’s willingness, suggested that Ukraine do a minerals deal with Washington, so that US also has a way of getting back what it is spending in Ukraine – both in terms of security as well as in helping rebuild Ukraine after the war. European leaders believe that this will keep the US invested in Ukraine, automatically providing for Kyiv’s security.
WHAT EUROPE SAYS
Earlier this week, France’s President Emmanuel Macron had met President Donald Trump in Washington DC. He was representing the European Union in that meeting. After the meeting, which primarily focused on a peace deal on the Ukraine war, President Macron revealed the endgame to finding a ceasefire.
“For me the sequence of the ceasefire agreement should be as follows – First, there should be a negotiation between the US and Russia and then the US and Ukraine. President Trump has announced today that he is willing to have a short-term meeting with Ukraine’s President Zelensky – this is super important,” President Macron said.
“A truce could actually happen in the weeks to come,” he said, adding that “Truce has to be achieved on land, in the air, and at sea, and infrastructure (installed in Ukraine) – and Russia must respect it. If it doesn’t, it will be clear that Moscow is not serious about a peace deal” and Ukraine’s sovereignty.
“During this period of time – when the truce is in place, we negotiate – on security guarantees (by Moscow), on land and territories (to reclaim or surrender), and it will be the responsibility of the Ukrainian President (to safeguard Kyiv’s interest),” President Macron said.
“For the United States,” he said, Washington “will secure a deal on rare earth and other critical minerals”. Confirming that France and the rest of Europe will be fine with this, Mr Macron explained that such a mineral deal for Washington “is important, because this would be the best way to guarantee that the US is also committed” and not back out of Ukraine’s safety and sovereignty.
And on the back of these set of manoeuvres, with all parties invested in maintaining Ukraine’s sovereignty, we will finally have a peace deal, he explained.
