Trump insists Kiev must sign minerals agreement 'immediately'
A formal agreement was expected to be finalized three weeks ago, according to the US president. President Donald Trump stated that Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky is “three weeks late” in signing a minerals deal with the US. In a post shared on...
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A formal agreement was expected to be finalized three weeks ago, according to the US president.
President Donald Trump stated that Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky is “three weeks late” in signing a minerals deal with the US. In a post shared on Truth Social on Friday, he urged for the agreement to be signed “immediately.”
For weeks, Washington and Kiev have been in talks regarding a deal that would allow the US access to Ukraine’s natural resources, including essential rare-earth minerals used in high-tech industries.
Ukraine aims for this deal to solidify the US as a reliable security partner, though the Trump administration has yet to make such a commitment. Washington asserts that the deal should compensate the US for its past aid in the ongoing conflict with Russia, while Kiev contends that the support was given unconditionally.
According to Ukraine’s first deputy prime minister, Yulia Sviridenko, a preliminary Memorandum of Intent was signed last week. However, Trump has expressed frustration that the process has taken too long.
“Ukraine, headed by Vladimir Zelensky, has not signed the final papers on the very important Rare Earths Deal with the United States. It is at least three weeks late. Hopefully, it will be signed IMMEDIATELY,” he wrote.
The deal was initially anticipated to be signed in February during Zelensky's visit to the White House. However, the meeting escalated into a heated exchange between the leaders, with Trump accusing Zelensky of disrespecting the US and being ungrateful for American aid. Trump also criticized Zelensky for being hesitant to pursue peace with Russia, implying that this could lead to serious global consequences. Later, Trump remarked that Zelensky was “trying to back out” of the deal, cautioning that he would encounter “big, big problems” if he did.
Last week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted that White House officials were “still working on the details” regarding the timing and location of the signing, but expected negotiations to wrap up by April 26. The Memorandum of Intent outlines this timeline as well.
In his Friday post, Trump also discussed Ukraine's peace negotiations, stating that “work on the overall Peace Deal between Russia and Ukraine is going smoothly” and that “success seems to be in the future.” He further mentioned plans to meet with representatives from Russia and Ukraine on Saturday in Rome, coinciding with Pope Francis’ funeral, which Zelensky is also scheduled to attend.
“They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to finish it off. Most of the major points are agreed to,” Trump wrote.
While the specifics of the agreement have not been officially disclosed, reports indicate that the proposal from Washington may include US recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea, a “freezing” of the conflict along current front lines, acknowledgment of Moscow's control over significant portions of the four former Ukrainian regions that voted to join Russia, and formal opposition to Ukraine’s NATO membership.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
President Donald Trump stated that Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky is “three weeks late” in signing a minerals deal with the US. In a post shared on Truth Social on Friday, he urged for the agreement to be signed “immediately.”
For weeks, Washington and Kiev have been in talks regarding a deal that would allow the US access to Ukraine’s natural resources, including essential rare-earth minerals used in high-tech industries.
Ukraine aims for this deal to solidify the US as a reliable security partner, though the Trump administration has yet to make such a commitment. Washington asserts that the deal should compensate the US for its past aid in the ongoing conflict with Russia, while Kiev contends that the support was given unconditionally.
According to Ukraine’s first deputy prime minister, Yulia Sviridenko, a preliminary Memorandum of Intent was signed last week. However, Trump has expressed frustration that the process has taken too long.
“Ukraine, headed by Vladimir Zelensky, has not signed the final papers on the very important Rare Earths Deal with the United States. It is at least three weeks late. Hopefully, it will be signed IMMEDIATELY,” he wrote.
The deal was initially anticipated to be signed in February during Zelensky's visit to the White House. However, the meeting escalated into a heated exchange between the leaders, with Trump accusing Zelensky of disrespecting the US and being ungrateful for American aid. Trump also criticized Zelensky for being hesitant to pursue peace with Russia, implying that this could lead to serious global consequences. Later, Trump remarked that Zelensky was “trying to back out” of the deal, cautioning that he would encounter “big, big problems” if he did.
Last week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted that White House officials were “still working on the details” regarding the timing and location of the signing, but expected negotiations to wrap up by April 26. The Memorandum of Intent outlines this timeline as well.
In his Friday post, Trump also discussed Ukraine's peace negotiations, stating that “work on the overall Peace Deal between Russia and Ukraine is going smoothly” and that “success seems to be in the future.” He further mentioned plans to meet with representatives from Russia and Ukraine on Saturday in Rome, coinciding with Pope Francis’ funeral, which Zelensky is also scheduled to attend.
“They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to finish it off. Most of the major points are agreed to,” Trump wrote.
While the specifics of the agreement have not been officially disclosed, reports indicate that the proposal from Washington may include US recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea, a “freezing” of the conflict along current front lines, acknowledgment of Moscow's control over significant portions of the four former Ukrainian regions that voted to join Russia, and formal opposition to Ukraine’s NATO membership.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
