 "Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meet at Trump Tower in New York City, on, September 27, 2024. The US president has been flip-flopping on the Russia-Ukraine war, calling the Ukraine leader a dictator earlier in the week. File photo/Reuters")
Ukraine on Wednesday announced that a “preliminary” deal has been reached with the US to transfer some of the revenues made from its rich mineral resources. The minerals deal, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been toying with, is central to the future of the country as Washington’s support hinges on it.
“This agreement is part of our larger agreements with the United States. This agreement could be part of future security guarantees… an agreement is an agreement, but we need to understand the broader vision,” Zelenskyy said in a news briefing.
“This deal could be a great success or it could pass quietly. And the big success depends on our conversation with President Trump,” he added.
Zelenskyy said that revenues from the resources deal would be deposited in a fund co-owned by Ukraine and the United States and that Kyiv would not be “a debtor” over aid provided under the Biden administration.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier this week that his country is ready to offer its rare earth minerals to the US. The Kremlin has said that it sees potential in raking up a possible deal with the US to develop Russia’s large reserves of strategically important rare and rare earth minerals.
Zelenskyy to meet Trump this Friday?
Zelenskyy also said that he hoped to visit Washington on Friday to strike the minerals deal with the United States and discuss future aid with Trump.
“I would like to have this visit very much,” Zelensky told reporters on Wednesday.
“This is just a start, a framework, it can be a big success. The success will depend on our conversation with President Trump,” he added.
Impact Shorts
View AllThe news of Zelenskyy visiting the US on Friday was corroborated by Trump who said yesterday that the Ukrainian leader wants to come to Washington to sign a “very big deal”.
Economic deal framework ready
Zelenskyy also announced that a framework economic deal with the US is ready. The framework deal is the first step toward a full agreement that will be subject to ratification by Ukraine’s parliament,
Ukraine needs to know where the United States stands on its continued military support, Zelenskyy said.
With inputs from agencies