Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed hope of visiting Washington on Friday to sign a mineral resources agreement with the United States and meet with former President Donald Trump. During his visit, he plans to discuss the future of U.S. assistance to Ukraine.
Trump has demanded U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare mineral resources in exchange for the billions of dollars in wartime aid provided under Joe Biden’s administration. Recently, Trump has strongly criticized Zelensky and questioned his legitimacy as Ukraine’s leader.
A senior Ukrainian official told AFP that Kyiv has agreed to a mineral deal with the U.S., allowing joint extraction of Ukraine’s mineral resources. Zelensky is expected to sign the agreement during his visit to Washington.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Zelensky said, “I am very interested in this visit. This is just the beginning. Major achievements could come from this framework. The success of this agreement depends on my discussions with President Trump.”
According to the deal, revenue from Ukraine’s mineral resources will be deposited into a jointly owned fund between Ukraine and the U.S. Zelensky assured that Kyiv would not default on its obligations considering past aid from the Biden administration.
He emphasized that cutting U.S. aid would be unfair to Ukraine. Zelensky plans to ask Trump directly whether Washington will completely stop assistance. If aid is discontinued, he also wants to discuss whether Ukraine could still purchase weapons from the U.S.
Kyiv hopes this agreement will improve relations with the Trump administration, despite recent tensions and Trump labeling Zelensky a dictator. However, a senior Ukrainian official noted that the deal does not yet clarify U.S. commitments to Ukraine’s security.