Trump says he may meet with Zelensky on Friday to sign minerals deal

According to Ukrinform, citing The New York Times, Trump made this statement to journalists in the Oval Office.

“I hear that he’s (Zelensky - ed.) coming on Friday. Certainly, it’s OK with me if he’d like to. And he would like to sign it together with me. And I understand that’s a big deal, very big deal,” the U.S. President said.

Earlier, several media outlets reported that Kyiv and Washington reached an agreement after the U.S. had removed its demand to receive all revenues from rare earth mineral extraction in Ukraine, which is estimated at $500 billion.

As Ukrinform reported, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Minister of Justice Olha Stefanishyna stated that Ukrainian and American teams are in the final stage of constructive negotiations on the minerals agreement. According to her, almost all key details have been agreed upon.

Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized that the minerals agreement must include clear security guarantees from the U.S. He stated that Ukraine is ready to be an equal partner, not a debtor.

Photo: EPA/UPG