US President Donald Trump confirmed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Washington on Friday, amid negotiations for a deal granting the US access to Ukrainian mineral resources. During a cabinet meeting, Trump mentioned that discussions had progressed following lengthy negotiations. However, Zelensky indicated that more challenges remain, viewing the agreement as a foundational step. Future talks will focus on security guarantees for Ukraine and financial specifics. Zelensky previously hesitated to sign an initial draft of the accord, which frustrated Trump, leading him to label Zelensky a “dictator” over the matter.
US President Donald Trump has announced that he will host his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington on Friday, as talks continue on an agreement to provide the United States access to Ukrainian mineral resources.
“President Zelensky is confirmed to arrive on Friday,” Trump stated during his first cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
The negotiations regarding the deal, which would offer the United States preferential access to Ukrainian natural resources in return for US support, have been challenging.
On Tuesday evening, officials reported that they had reached an agreement after lengthy discussions; however, Zelensky informed reporters in Kyiv that tougher negotiations were still to come.
“This is just the beginning, this forms a framework agreement,” he told the media at the presidential administration.
Subsequent conversations between US and Ukrainian officials will clarify the terms of security guarantees for Ukraine and the specific financial implications of the agreements.
“This deal has the potential to be a significant success or may simply fall through. The outcome will largely depend on our discussions with President Trump. We’ll analyze the results afterward,” he remarked.
Zelensky’s decision not to sign the initial draft of the agreement presented to him in Kyiv by the US treasury secretary upset Trump, who subsequently referred to the Ukrainian leader as a “dictator.”
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