Trump says he will meet with Zelenskyy to sign minerals deal this week or next week
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- Darina Melnychuk
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20:25, 24 February, 2025
US President Donald Trump. Photo: Getty ImagesUS President Donald Trump has said he will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to sign a minerals deal this week or next week.
He said this before talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, the White House said.
«I will meet with President Zelensky. In fact, he may arrive this week or next week to sign the agreement, which will be good. The agreement is being worked out now. They are very close to the final decision», Donald Trump said.
Earlier, Donald Trump said that he would like to conclude a deal under which Ukraine would supply the US with rare earth minerals needed for electronics production in exchange for US aid.
However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticised Donald Trump's proposal to provide Ukraine with military assistance in exchange for its minerals.
Subsequently, US President Donald Trump said that Ukraine had agreed to provide Washington with access to rare earth minerals worth $500 billion.
It should be noted, however, that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused to sign the agreement on granting the US access to rare earth minerals. The White House called this decision «short-sighted».
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the US might consider investing in mining on the Black Sea shelf, which is currently under Russian occupation.
However, Donald Trump later stated that he intended to renew the agreement with Ukraine onrare earth minerals.
US National Security Advisor Mike Volz called on Kyiv «to tone it down» and sign the mining agreement, which had been previously rejected by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Then, the administration of US President Donald Trump sent Ukraine an updated version of the mining agreement, which took into account some of Kyiv's comments.
Later, the Office of the President of Ukraine reported that the document still contains clauses that raise certain questions, particularly in the context of security guarantees.
