Despite his heated exchange with US President Donald Trump last week, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that the minerals deal with the United States is “ready” to be signed.
Zelenskyy said that Kyiv is ready to go forward with the agreement, which fell through following the clash with Trump on Friday, February 28, 2025.
He told reporters that it is Ukraine’s policy to continue despite what happened in the past.
“We are constructive. If we agreed upon signing it, we were ready to sign it. And honestly, I believe that the United States is ready as well.
“Perhaps there is a need in time to analyse certain things, but I just want the Ukrainian position to be heard. It was very important to me that the Ukrainian position is heard.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy expressed confidence that relations with Trump could be salvaged and that his administration would not cut off assistance to Kyiv. “I think our relations will continue because this is more than relations at a certain moment,” the Ukrainian leader said.
“We must be open. Ukraine is not the biggest country in the world, but everyone can see how it fights for its independence and freedom. We count on assistance from the United States without a doubt.
“I think stopping such assistance will only help [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. And because of that, I think the United States and representatives of the civilised world, leaders of this world definitely won’t help Putin.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
The Trump administration’s proposal to jointly exploit Ukraine’s natural resources as part of a broader deal to end the war collapsed in spectacular fashion on Friday during a televised meeting between Zelenskyy and the US President at the White House.
After Zelenskyy challenged US Vice President JD Vance over his contention that diplomacy was needed after former US President Joe Biden’s approach had failed, Trump and Vance castigated the Ukrainian leader for not being sufficiently grateful for US support and overestimating his bargaining position.
Following the exchange, the rest of Zelenskyy’s visit, including a signing ceremony for the minerals deal, was cancelled and Trump said that the Ukrainian leader could return when “he is ready” for peace.
White House officials and Republicans in Congress are using news show appearances to demand that Zelenskyy display more gratitude for U.S. support and an openness to potential war-ending concessions to Putin.
Some suggested Zelenskyy should consider resigning.
Russia Sees US-Ukraine Mineral Deal As A Threat
Meanwhile, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US-based think tank, stated that official statements emanating from Russia indicate Moscow is attempting to “sabotage” the potential US-Ukraine deal on rare earth minerals.
ISW said in a post on its website that the Kremlin has a vested interest in preventing the United States and Ukraine from signing a mineral deal, as “the deal will commit the United States to a long-term investment in Ukraine and Ukraine’s sovereignty.”
Russian President, Vladimir Putin told a journalist that Russia has an “order of magnitude” more rare earth materials than Ukraine and can make a better offer.
It was added that Moscow could cooperate with both the US government and American companies in capital investment projects to develop them.
According to the ISW, the mineral deal – even one that does not include text about American security guarantees for Ukraine – will represent a long-term US economic investment in Ukraine.
The institute added that it could be a building block towards additional US assistance or military sales to Ukraine in the future.
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