U.S. and Ukraine Close to Signing Minerals Deal After Tense White House Meeting
Washington and Kyiv are working to finalize a minerals agreement after a heated Oval Office encounter between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last Friday, sources familiar with the situation revealed.
The deal, which has been the subject of intense discussions, was expected to be signed during Zelenskiy’s visit to Washington. However, tensions flared during a meeting at the White House, leading to the Ukrainian leader’s abrupt departure. Trump and Vice President JD Vance reportedly criticized Zelenskiy for asking for additional aid in front of the media, with Trump warning, “You’re gambling with World War III.”
Despite the diplomatic setback, U.S. officials have continued discussions with Ukrainian counterparts, urging Zelenskiy’s team to smooth things over. According to sources, Zelenskiy has been encouraged to issue a public apology to Trump to mend relations and move forward with the agreement.
On Tuesday, Zelenskiy acknowledged the difficult meeting in a post on X, calling it “regrettable” but reaffirming Ukraine’s commitment to finalizing the deal. “Our meeting in Washington did not go as planned,” he wrote. “However, Ukraine remains ready to negotiate and work toward lasting peace.”
While details of the agreement remain unclear, earlier drafts did not include explicit security guarantees for Ukraine. Instead, the deal grants the U.S. access to revenues from Ukraine’s natural resources. It also proposes that Ukraine contribute 50% of future profits from state-owned natural resources to a jointly managed reconstruction investment fund.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump signaled that his administration remained open to signing the deal but suggested Ukraine should show more gratitude. “This country has stood by them through thick and thin,” he said. “We’ve given them more than Europe has, and Europe should have done more.”
As negotiations continue, all eyes are on whether the two nations can move past Friday’s confrontation and reach a final agreement.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
