Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pushed back against a proposed minerals deal with the United States, rejecting the current terms as negotiations between Kyiv and Washington continue. The deal, which US President Donald Trump is pushing, seeks to have Ukraine provide rare earth minerals in exchange for wartime aid, a demand Kyiv finds unacceptable without clear security guarantees.
According to a source close to the matter, Zelensky is “not ready to accept” the draft agreement in its present form, citing the need for further revisions to ensure a fair and constructive deal. Trump’s national security adviser had earlier predicted that the Ukrainian leader would soon sign the agreement, but no details of the proposed arrangement have been disclosed publicly.
The ongoing negotiations come at a time of heightened tensions between Trump and Zelensky, which have caused alarm in both Kyiv and European capitals. Trump recently referred to Zelensky as a “dictator” and urged him to “move fast” in ending the war with Russia. These remarks followed secret talks between US and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia, which notably excluded Ukraine.
Adding to the friction, the US has submitted a draft United Nations resolution on the Ukraine conflict that does not mention territories occupied by Russia, further deepening Kyiv’s concerns over Washington’s commitment.
Trump has reportedly asked for $500 billion worth of rare earth minerals as compensation for US military and financial aid provided to Ukraine under President Joe Biden. However, Ukrainian officials argue that this figure does not align with published US aid figures, which officially stand at over $60 billion in military assistance alone.
“There are no American obligations in the agreement regarding guarantees or investments, everything about them is very vague, and they want to extract $500 billion from us,” a Ukrainian source told AFP, questioning the fairness of such a demand. Kyiv has proposed amendments to the deal to ensure mutual benefit.
Despite US-Ukraine tensions, the United Kingdom has reaffirmed its support for Kyiv. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in a call with Zelensky, reiterated the UK’s “ironclad support” for Ukraine. Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also discussed securing a “just and enduring peace” in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Ukraine continues to face relentless Russian bombardment, with Moscow claiming the capture of Novolyubivka in the eastern Luhansk region. As Ukraine marks the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, the pressure on Zelensky’s leadership remains immense amid ongoing diplomatic and military challenges.
