1st Cabinet Meeting: Trump Says Zelenskyy to Visit D.C. to Sign Ukraine Minerals Deal/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump announced Ukrainian President Zelenskyy will visit the White House on Friday to sign a minerals deal granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare earth deposits. The agreement aims to repay U.S. wartime aid but lacks security guarantees Kyiv seeks. Talks will focus on military support and investment protections.
US-Ukraine Minerals Deal Quick Looks
- Zelenskyy to visit Washington Friday to sign a rare earth minerals agreement.
- Trump calls it a “very big agreement” aimed at repaying U.S. war aid.
- Deal grants U.S. access to Ukraine’s strategic mineral resources.
- No U.S. security guarantees included, despite Kyiv’s push for them.
- Ukraine hopes to lock in U.S. involvement through economic ties.
- Agreement includes plans for a Ukraine reconstruction investment fund.
- Diplomatic talks between Russia and U.S. set for Thursday in Istanbul.
- Military aid and frozen Russian assets to be key discussion points Friday.
1st Cabinet Meeting: Trump Says Zelenskyy to Visit D.C. to Sign Minerals Deal
Deep Look
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit the White House on Friday to sign a landmark minerals agreement. The deal will give the U.S. access to Ukraine’s valuable rare earth deposits, essential for industries like aerospace and defense.
“It’s a very big agreement,” Trump declared at the start of his first Cabinet meeting of his second term.
The Republican president has long criticized U.S. spending on Ukraine’s war effort and sees the deal as compensation for the billions in American aid.
“The previous administration put us in a very bad position, but we’ve been able to make a deal where we’re going to get the money back and a lot more in the future,” Trump added.
Kyiv Seeks Security Guarantees Amid Economic Pressure
While welcoming the economic deal, Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of continued U.S. military support.
“This agreement may be part of future security guarantees, but I want to understand the broader vision,” Zelenskyy said in Kyiv before departing.
The current framework includes no explicit security commitments—a sticking point for Ukraine. Zelenskyy hopes Friday’s talks will clarify Washington’s position on military aid, the use of frozen Russian assets, and potential arms purchases.
Inside the Agreement: Economics Over Security
A draft of the agreement, reviewed by The Associated Press, states that the U.S. “supports Ukraine’s efforts to obtain security guarantees,” but offers no binding promises. Instead, the focus lies on mutual investment protections and shared economic benefits.
Kyiv agreed to the deal after the U.S. dropped earlier demands for a $500 billion compensation clause, which Ukraine argued was financially burdensome. The finalized version outlines plans for a joint investment fund dedicated to Ukraine’s reconstruction.
“Success depends on our conversation with President Trump,” Zelenskyy remarked.
Geopolitical Shifts and Russia’s Response
Trump’s foreign policy pivot has softened U.S. pressure on Russia, creating diplomatic ripples. While scrapping previous isolation efforts against Vladimir Putin, Trump has shifted focus to economic leverage over Kyiv.
In a parallel development, Russian and U.S. diplomats will meet Thursday in Istanbul to discuss embassy operations. This meeting marks a rare instance of bilateral diplomacy amid ongoing tensions.
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