Trump charges Ukrainians with 'rudeness'
US President Donald Trump has criticized Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky for rejecting a minerals agreement with Washington. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent encountered poor treatment during his recent trip to Kiev to negotiate a minerals agreement, according to claims made by President Donald Trump.
Trump has asserted that the Ukrainian government treated Bessent “rudely” during his visit, noting that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky opted to sleep instead of meeting with the senior US official to finalize the deal. “Zelensky was sleeping and unavailable to meet him,” Trump stated to reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday. He added that the secretary “traveled many hours on the train, which is a dangerous trip,” commenting further that the visit was futile as the Ukrainians “told him ‘no’” regarding the agreement.
Although the first senior official from Trump’s second administration to visit Kiev did meet with Zelensky in person on February 12, Trump's criticisms centered on the minerals deal Bessent aimed to conclude. This agreement was intended to grant the US prioritized access to natural resources controlled by Ukraine, which Trump argued was critical compensation for the support the US has provided to Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia. He perceived the denial of the deal as a betrayal, emphasizing earlier in the day that the Ukrainians “broke that deal.”
Zelensky had originally proposed a minerals arrangement to the US as part of his ‘victory plan’ presented to then-President Joe Biden and Trump before the November elections. Reports indicated that Republican Senator Lindsey Graham urged Kiev to include the proposal to align with Trump’s ‘America First’ agenda.
Zelensky defended his refusal to sign the document presented by Bessent, claiming it lacked security guarantees for Ukraine and would betray the interests of the nation. According to a report from Reuters on Thursday, Kiev is willing to consider signing a different version of the agreement that would seem less “rapacious.”
Trump has voiced a desire to revive the deal, and unnamed sources reported by Reuters suggest that Washington is contemplating a “streamlined” treaty that could be quickly agreed upon, with details to be negotiated later. Sources indicate that Trump aims to finalize a pact to showcase to the American public prior to approving additional military aid.
US Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg is currently discussing the potential agreement's parameters during his visit to Ukraine this week, as reported by Reuters. One US presidential adviser remarked regarding Zelensky that “we need to get this guy back to reality,” confirming Washington’s interest in the raw materials.
In a separate context, US and Russian officials engaged in productive talks in Saudi Arabia aimed at improving bilateral relations. This stands in stark contrast to the increasing tensions between Trump and Zelensky, with Trump recently labeling Zelensky a “dictator without an election” and warning him to “move fast, or he’s not going to have a country left.” In response, Zelensky accused Trump of perpetuating “Russian disinformation.”
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
Trump has asserted that the Ukrainian government treated Bessent “rudely” during his visit, noting that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky opted to sleep instead of meeting with the senior US official to finalize the deal. “Zelensky was sleeping and unavailable to meet him,” Trump stated to reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday. He added that the secretary “traveled many hours on the train, which is a dangerous trip,” commenting further that the visit was futile as the Ukrainians “told him ‘no’” regarding the agreement.
Although the first senior official from Trump’s second administration to visit Kiev did meet with Zelensky in person on February 12, Trump's criticisms centered on the minerals deal Bessent aimed to conclude. This agreement was intended to grant the US prioritized access to natural resources controlled by Ukraine, which Trump argued was critical compensation for the support the US has provided to Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia. He perceived the denial of the deal as a betrayal, emphasizing earlier in the day that the Ukrainians “broke that deal.”
Zelensky had originally proposed a minerals arrangement to the US as part of his ‘victory plan’ presented to then-President Joe Biden and Trump before the November elections. Reports indicated that Republican Senator Lindsey Graham urged Kiev to include the proposal to align with Trump’s ‘America First’ agenda.
Zelensky defended his refusal to sign the document presented by Bessent, claiming it lacked security guarantees for Ukraine and would betray the interests of the nation. According to a report from Reuters on Thursday, Kiev is willing to consider signing a different version of the agreement that would seem less “rapacious.”
Trump has voiced a desire to revive the deal, and unnamed sources reported by Reuters suggest that Washington is contemplating a “streamlined” treaty that could be quickly agreed upon, with details to be negotiated later. Sources indicate that Trump aims to finalize a pact to showcase to the American public prior to approving additional military aid.
US Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg is currently discussing the potential agreement's parameters during his visit to Ukraine this week, as reported by Reuters. One US presidential adviser remarked regarding Zelensky that “we need to get this guy back to reality,” confirming Washington’s interest in the raw materials.
In a separate context, US and Russian officials engaged in productive talks in Saudi Arabia aimed at improving bilateral relations. This stands in stark contrast to the increasing tensions between Trump and Zelensky, with Trump recently labeling Zelensky a “dictator without an election” and warning him to “move fast, or he’s not going to have a country left.” In response, Zelensky accused Trump of perpetuating “Russian disinformation.”
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
