Washington: The US and Ukraine are on the verge of finalizing a significant agreement granting the US access to valuable mineral rights, a move pursued by the Trump administration as compensation for military aid aimed at helping Ukraine resist Russia's invasion. Negotiations are ongoing, with the Wall Street Journal reporting that an agreement could be finalized as early as Saturday, although specific terms remain unclear.
According to Anadolu Agency, Ukraine initially refused to sign the agreement earlier this week, causing tensions between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This raised concerns about a potential rift between Washington and Kyiv. In a nightly video address on Friday, Zelenskyy indicated progress, noting that US and Ukrainian negotiators were working on a draft agreement. He emphasized the importance of working out the details to ensure its effectiveness and expressed optimism about reaching a just result.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had presented Zelenskyy with a proposal during a visit to Kyiv last week. However, Ukraine declined to sign at the time, citing the need for further review and a request for security guarantees. Ukrainian officials noted they had only a few hours to examine the proposal before it was formally presented. US President Trump expressed confidence in the potential deal, stating that he believed both parties felt positively about it.
Zelenskyy's initial rejection of the proposal led to escalating tensions, with Trump referring to Zelenskyy as a 'dictator' after the Ukrainian leader suggested Trump was influenced by Russian disinformation. On Thursday, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump's Ukraine envoy, met Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Zelenskyy later described the meeting as one that 'restores hope,' instructing his team to work swiftly and sensibly on the negotiations. A source close to the Ukrainian government revealed that Kellogg played a key role in finalizing the deal's terms by building trust with Zelenskyy and other officials during his three-day visit to Kyiv.
The dispute raised concerns among US allies that Trump might withdraw support from Ukraine, which has relied on American military and financial aid for three years to defend against Russia. Trump is advocating for a swift end to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Senior US and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and agreed to form teams to negotiate a settlement. However, Zelenskyy expressed frustration over being excluded from these talks, stating that Ukraine would not accept any deal it was not involved in negotiating.