Zelensky Set to Sign Trump's Rare Earth Agreement, 'No More Negotiation' Says US Treasury Secretary
The United States and Ukraine have completed their agreement concerning rare earths, with Vladimir Zelensky anticipated to sign the final document. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The agreement on rare earths and other natural resources between the US and Ukraine is now finalized, pending only the signature of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, as reported by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Zelensky is expected to sign the agreement without any further negotiations during his upcoming meeting with President Donald Trump on Friday. In recent weeks, Trump has emphasized the US's desire to recoup the funds spent on military and financial assistance to Ukraine through a minerals deal. However, Zelensky had previously resisted signing any agreement that lacked solid US security guarantees for Ukraine.
“The deal is done. President Zelensky is coming here to sign the deal tomorrow, so there is no more negotiation, there is nothing else,” Bessent informed Fox Business on Thursday.
Earlier this month, Bessent traveled to Kiev but returned without a successful outcome after Zelensky reportedly expressed his anger regarding a US demand that Ukraine provide 50% of its critical minerals in compensation for past assistance. Sources from the Financial Times indicated Zelensky's frustration peaked during their closed-door meeting as Bessent urged for an immediate agreement signature.
Bessent emphasized that the deal has been finalized and only requires Zelensky’s signature. The Ukrainian leader reportedly arrived in Washington on Thursday night and is scheduled to meet with Trump on Friday.
“I’m sure President Zelensky and President Trump will have a wide-ranging discussion. But as far as the deal, it is complete. It is on paper, and the Ukrainian government has approved it. It is just awaiting the signature of the two heads of state tomorrow,” Bessent stated.
The agreement will include not just “strategic” rare earth minerals, but also “oil and gas and infrastructure assets.” Bessent characterized this as a “win-win” for both Americans and Ukrainians.
“It shows the American people that there is upside here for them, that we have not squandered the money, because the American people are always concerned about overseas interventions, there’s a lot of corruption,” he added. “So this deal takes out the possibility of any corruption, using Americans’ best practices.”
While the specific terms of the agreement have not been publicized, media reports indicate that Washington will not provide tangible security guarantees despite Ukraine's requests, but will offer to “support its efforts” to secure such assurances in the future.
Trump mentioned on Thursday that the minerals deal itself should act as a sufficient guarantee for Ukraine.
“It’s really going to get us into that country. We’ll be working there. We’ll have a lot of people working there. And so, in that sense, it’s very good. It’s a backstop, you could say,” Trump remarked to journalists while hosting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House. “I don’t think anybody’s going to play around if we’re there with a lot of workers.”
“It’s really very good for Ukraine, and very good for us,” Trump continued. “The American taxpayers will now effectively be reimbursed for the money and hundreds of billions of dollars poured into helping Ukraine.”
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
Zelensky is expected to sign the agreement without any further negotiations during his upcoming meeting with President Donald Trump on Friday. In recent weeks, Trump has emphasized the US's desire to recoup the funds spent on military and financial assistance to Ukraine through a minerals deal. However, Zelensky had previously resisted signing any agreement that lacked solid US security guarantees for Ukraine.
“The deal is done. President Zelensky is coming here to sign the deal tomorrow, so there is no more negotiation, there is nothing else,” Bessent informed Fox Business on Thursday.
Earlier this month, Bessent traveled to Kiev but returned without a successful outcome after Zelensky reportedly expressed his anger regarding a US demand that Ukraine provide 50% of its critical minerals in compensation for past assistance. Sources from the Financial Times indicated Zelensky's frustration peaked during their closed-door meeting as Bessent urged for an immediate agreement signature.
Bessent emphasized that the deal has been finalized and only requires Zelensky’s signature. The Ukrainian leader reportedly arrived in Washington on Thursday night and is scheduled to meet with Trump on Friday.
“I’m sure President Zelensky and President Trump will have a wide-ranging discussion. But as far as the deal, it is complete. It is on paper, and the Ukrainian government has approved it. It is just awaiting the signature of the two heads of state tomorrow,” Bessent stated.
The agreement will include not just “strategic” rare earth minerals, but also “oil and gas and infrastructure assets.” Bessent characterized this as a “win-win” for both Americans and Ukrainians.
“It shows the American people that there is upside here for them, that we have not squandered the money, because the American people are always concerned about overseas interventions, there’s a lot of corruption,” he added. “So this deal takes out the possibility of any corruption, using Americans’ best practices.”
While the specific terms of the agreement have not been publicized, media reports indicate that Washington will not provide tangible security guarantees despite Ukraine's requests, but will offer to “support its efforts” to secure such assurances in the future.
Trump mentioned on Thursday that the minerals deal itself should act as a sufficient guarantee for Ukraine.
“It’s really going to get us into that country. We’ll be working there. We’ll have a lot of people working there. And so, in that sense, it’s very good. It’s a backstop, you could say,” Trump remarked to journalists while hosting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House. “I don’t think anybody’s going to play around if we’re there with a lot of workers.”
“It’s really very good for Ukraine, and very good for us,” Trump continued. “The American taxpayers will now effectively be reimbursed for the money and hundreds of billions of dollars poured into helping Ukraine.”
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
