Pentagon Chief: Zelensky Must Negotiate
According to Pete Hegseth, repayment to the US via mineral resources is essential for the future of Ukraine. For the complete article, visit RT.com.
TroibNews 
Pete Hegseth has emphasized the importance of Ukraine repaying the US through minerals for the country's future. He suggested that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky should look to Russia as a model for engaging in negotiations with the US, noting that Russia has made "great progress" in this regard. Washington is urging Kiev to finalize a minerals agreement as a way to repay prior support.
Last year, Zelensky announced a plan to provide the US with privileged access to Ukraine's natural resources as part of his ‘victory plan’. However, he has yet to sign a preliminary agreement proposed by the Trump administration, which the former president has criticized as a violation of trust. In a Fox News interview on Sunday, Hegseth highlighted the contrasts between Zelensky's approach and Russia's recent diplomatic efforts with the US.
”Zelensky should come to the table because this economic partnership is an important thing for the future of his country, and we hope that he will very soon,” he stated.
Both Washington and Moscow are attempting to move beyond the stalemate that characterized their relations during Joe Biden's presidency, expressing hope that this could lead to a rapid resolution of the conflict in Ukraine. Zelensky has openly criticized Trump's stance on Russia, arguing that negotiations regarding Ukraine should not occur without Ukraine's involvement.
Shifts in the Trump administration's rhetoric have seen officials move away from describing Moscow's actions in the Ukraine conflict as “unprovoked aggression,” instead acknowledging NATO's expansion as a provocative factor from Russia's perspective. Hegseth argued that this adjustment is essential for fostering peace.
”Standing here and saying: ‘you’re good, you’re bad, you're a dictator, you’re not a dictator, you invaded, you didn’t’ – it’s not useful, it’s not productive,” he explained.
Trump has referred to Zelensky as a “dictator without elections,” highlighting his suspension of elections under martial law and his refusal to transfer presidential powers to the parliamentary speaker after his term expired last year. Zelensky asserts that his landslide victory in 2019 legitimizes his leadership. Meanwhile, Moscow appears hesitant to commit to a peace agreement with Zelensky, pointing to his contested legitimacy as a potential issue for the treaty's legal standing.
During a press conference on Sunday, Zelensky stated that he would not agree to a minerals deal with the US that would bind “ten generations of Ukrainians to pay.” He also suggested that he might resign in exchange for Ukraine's immediate accession to NATO, a proposal that some members of the US-led military alliance have dismissed. Absent that outcome, Zelensky is striving to create a “NATO within Ukraine,” envisioning a military force of at least 800,000 troops, which he argues should be funded by Western donors.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
Last year, Zelensky announced a plan to provide the US with privileged access to Ukraine's natural resources as part of his ‘victory plan’. However, he has yet to sign a preliminary agreement proposed by the Trump administration, which the former president has criticized as a violation of trust. In a Fox News interview on Sunday, Hegseth highlighted the contrasts between Zelensky's approach and Russia's recent diplomatic efforts with the US.
”Zelensky should come to the table because this economic partnership is an important thing for the future of his country, and we hope that he will very soon,” he stated.
Both Washington and Moscow are attempting to move beyond the stalemate that characterized their relations during Joe Biden's presidency, expressing hope that this could lead to a rapid resolution of the conflict in Ukraine. Zelensky has openly criticized Trump's stance on Russia, arguing that negotiations regarding Ukraine should not occur without Ukraine's involvement.
Shifts in the Trump administration's rhetoric have seen officials move away from describing Moscow's actions in the Ukraine conflict as “unprovoked aggression,” instead acknowledging NATO's expansion as a provocative factor from Russia's perspective. Hegseth argued that this adjustment is essential for fostering peace.
”Standing here and saying: ‘you’re good, you’re bad, you're a dictator, you’re not a dictator, you invaded, you didn’t’ – it’s not useful, it’s not productive,” he explained.
Trump has referred to Zelensky as a “dictator without elections,” highlighting his suspension of elections under martial law and his refusal to transfer presidential powers to the parliamentary speaker after his term expired last year. Zelensky asserts that his landslide victory in 2019 legitimizes his leadership. Meanwhile, Moscow appears hesitant to commit to a peace agreement with Zelensky, pointing to his contested legitimacy as a potential issue for the treaty's legal standing.
During a press conference on Sunday, Zelensky stated that he would not agree to a minerals deal with the US that would bind “ten generations of Ukrainians to pay.” He also suggested that he might resign in exchange for Ukraine's immediate accession to NATO, a proposal that some members of the US-led military alliance have dismissed. Absent that outcome, Zelensky is striving to create a “NATO within Ukraine,” envisioning a military force of at least 800,000 troops, which he argues should be funded by Western donors.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
