President Donald Trump will host Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelenky School in the White House on Friday since the US began direct negotiations with Russia to secure an agreement to end the long-standing war in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy’s visit is expected to largely focus on the potential US ukraine trade on rare earth minerals in European countries used to manufacture a variety of technology products.
Trump previewed the visit during a gathering of cabinet members on Wednesday, showing that the two countries have made progress in an agreement to grant the US important ownership of Ukraine’s rare earth minerals as a form of repayment of Washington’s Kiev’s continued support since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
“We’re going to sign the deal, which is a huge agreement,” Trump said.
Zelensky last met with Trump in December along with French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of an event celebrating the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
A few months ago, the two met in New York. The Ukrainian Embassy in Washington said Zelensky had just first presented Trump with a “winning plan” that included the exchange of the country’s “natural resources and important metals.”
US authorities began peace talks with Russian negotiators in Saudi Arabia this month, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio leading the US delegation. It was the first time during the Trump administration that Russian and American officials met in person with the explicit intention of ending the war in Ukraine.
Trump has long accused Zelensky of over-benefiting the United States and spending billions of US dollars on wars that “couldn’t win” before former President Joe Biden.
Trump argues the mineral agreement could serve as a refund of nearly $66 billion for military aid the United States has provided Ukraine over the past three years, creating a “economic partnership” between the two countries.
“The mineral agreement provides the basis for a more sustainable future relationship between the US and Ukraine and therefore stimulates long-term prosperity that will help Ukrainians rebuild their own country,” Trump said Wednesday.
Ukraine has some of the world’s largest reserves of titanium and iron ore. However, US officials say that much of the mineral is in areas controlled by Russian troops.
Russia proposed a similar transaction that grants US ownership of rare earth minerals and precious metals in Russian-controlled Ukrainian territory. This is the idea that both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are showing interest.
Zelenskyy rejected the first US offer on rare earth minerals this month, saying it didn’t include Ukraine’s strong enough security guarantees.
The refusal was combined with Zelensky’s claim that Ukrainian officials were involved in US-Russia discussions to end the war, sparking Trump’s outrage.
After Zelensky accused Trump of living in the “disinformation bubble” in Russia, Trump had malicious intentions as a “no-election dictator.”
Trump later told Fox News that Zelensky would ham his efforts to negotiate an end to the war.
“To be honest with you, I don’t think it’s very important for him to attend meetings. He’s been there for three years. He makes dealing very difficult,” Trump said.
He hit a more reconciliatory tone at a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer on Thursday.
“We’re going to get really good,” Trump said of Zelensky. “I have a lot of respect for him. We’ve given him a lot of gear and a lot of money, but they’ve fought very bravely no matter how you think about it.”
Priorities and Macron, who were in the White House on Monday, reaffirmed his support for Zelensky during his meeting with Trump.
The priorities praised Trump on Thursday for creating “a tremendous opportunity to reach a historic peace deal,” but warned him against negotiating an agreement in support of Russia.
“It’s not peace to reward the invaders,” said the star. “We agree that history must be on the side of the peace overseer, not the invaders.”
Macron said at a joint press conference with Trump that the peace deal should include strong security assurances from Ukraine.
“Peace must not mean Ukraine’s surrender, it must not mean ceasefire without guarantees. This peace must enable Ukraine’s sovereignty and allow Ukraine to negotiate with other stakeholders on issues that affect Ukraine,” Macron said.
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