Washington: The White House on Sunday criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for refusing to sign a proposed agreement granting the US access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals, calling the decision "short-sighted."
According to Anadolu Agency, the White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes stated that President Zelenskyy is overlooking the significant opportunity presented by the Trump administration. Hughes emphasized that the deal would not only allow American taxpayers to recover funds sent to Kyiv but also benefit Ukraine's economy. He further noted that binding economic ties with the US would serve as a strong deterrent against future aggression and contribute to lasting peace.
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz also commented on the matter, expressing that the US deserves 'payback' from Ukraine for its support against the Russian invasion. He suggested that President Zelenskyy would be 'very wise' to accept the minerals deal offered last week.
Earlier on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced his decision to prevent his government from signing the agreement with the US regarding rare metals. Speaking at a news conference in Munich, Germany, Zelenskyy cited concerns over national interests, stating that the proposed agreement did not align with the interests of the Ukrainian people.
In a separate interview with US media on Monday, US President Donald Trump did not dismiss the possibility of seeking to "return" all the money spent by the American government in Ukraine, specifically through an equivalent amount of Ukrainian rare earth metals valued at $500 billion.
Zelenskyy underscored his responsibility as president to ensure the quality of agreements, explaining that he halted the signing process because, in his opinion, the document was not yet ready. He insisted that the agreement must guarantee investments in Ukraine and be legally structured to clearly define the distribution of profits and the linkage between rare metal extraction and security guarantees for his nation.
Emphasizing the importance of Ukraine's sovereignty, Zelenskyy remarked, "It's not in our interests today. Not in the interests of sovereign Ukraine. I'm just a president; I'm a manager, and after my term, there will be another manager, and its nation's resources, they are not just mine, (they are) of our people." He reiterated his commitment to ensuring that Ukraine's natural resources remain accessible for future generations.