Ukraine Prepared to Sign Minerals Agreement, Says Zelensky

LONDON, 3 March 2025 (BSS/AFP) – Ukraine is ready to sign a minerals agreement with the United States, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told UK media on Sunday, despite recent tensions between Kyiv and Washington.

“The agreement that is on the table will be signed if both parties are prepared,” Zelensky stated during a late-night briefing with UK journalists following a high-profile summit in London.

The proposed deal, which was intended to serve as a step towards ending the conflict in Ukraine, was derailed on Friday after a heated televised exchange between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.

A Strained Meeting at the White House

Zelensky had travelled to Washington for a formal White House visit to finalise a US-Ukrainian agreement on the joint exploitation of Ukraine’s extensive mineral resources. The deal was positioned as a crucial element of a US-brokered peace initiative aimed at post-war recovery.

However, tensions flared during the Oval Office meeting when Trump publicly admonished Zelensky, urging him to be more “thankful” for US support over the course of the three-year war. Trump further warned that, without American assistance, Ukraine would have been overrun by Russia.

“You’re either going to make a deal, or we’re out,” Trump reportedly told Zelensky. “And if we’re out, you’ll fight it out, and I don’t think it’s going to be pretty.”

Despite Trump’s earlier claims that the proposed minerals deal would be “very fair,” no agreement was reached during the meeting. The deal would have granted Washington financial benefits for its role in facilitating a potential truce, although Trump has consistently refused to commit US military support to Ukraine. Instead, he has suggested that European nations should take a more active role in securing peace.

Following the tense encounter, Zelensky abruptly departed from the White House in his motorcade without holding a planned joint press conference, leaving the minerals agreement unsigned.

Ukraine’s Allies Show Support

In response to the diplomatic fallout, Ukraine’s European allies reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Kyiv at a summit hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday. European leaders pledged to bolster security spending and explore the formation of a coalition to uphold any potential truce.

French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking after the London summit, revealed in a newspaper interview that France and the UK were considering a proposal for a temporary one-month ceasefire with Russia as a preliminary step towards a broader peace agreement.

A Strategic Agreement for Ukraine’s Future

Ukraine is home to some of the world’s most significant reserves of lithium, titanium, and other critical minerals essential for industries such as aerospace, defence, and renewable energy. The proposed deal with Washington could provide a vital economic boost for Ukraine’s war-torn economy while securing strategic resources for the United States.

However, with diplomatic tensions escalating and political divisions in Washington affecting US foreign policy, the fate of the minerals agreement remains uncertain. Whether Zelensky and Trump can find common ground in future negotiations will likely determine the extent of American involvement in Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction efforts.