President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, announced on Friday that he expects Ukraine to accept and sign a proposed deal that would include U.S. investments in its mineral assets. This deal is part of the larger negotiation towards ending the war in Ukraine.
Waltz’s comments came after reports that the Trump administration presented a revised version of the minerals agreement to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after he initially rejected the proposal. Speaking at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) outside Washington, Waltz stated, “President Zelenskyy is going to sign that deal. And you will see that in the very short term. And that is good for Ukraine.”
This statement follows a recent exchange between Trump and Zelenskyy, where the Ukrainian president responded to Trump’s suggestion that Ukraine started the war with Russia by stating that the U.S. president was living in a Russian-influenced “disinformation space.” In response, Trump called Zelenskyy a “dictator without elections” on his Truth Social platform.
However, on Friday, Trump mentioned his indirect exchanges with Zelenskyy while speaking to the Republican State Governors Association at the White House. He described having “very good talks with [Russian leader Vladimir] Putin” and “not such good talks with Ukraine.” He also mentioned how Ukraine talks “tough” but does not have a lot of bargaining chips.
To smooth over the tensions, Trump sent his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, to Kyiv for meetings with Zelenskyy on Thursday. Following the meeting, Zelenskyy had nothing but positive things to say on his social media account. He stated, “My meeting with General Kellogg was one that restores hope, and we need strong agreements with the U.S. – agreements that will truly work. I have instructed my team to work quickly and very sensibly.” He also added, “We all need peace – Ukraine, Europe, America, and the entire world.”
Kellogg also reposted Zelenskyy’s comments on his social media account and stated, “Extensive and positive discussions with [Zelenskyy], the embattled and courageous leader of a nation at war, and his talented national security team.”
The tension this past week was mainly focused on talks between a U.S. delegation led by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia. No Ukrainian or European representatives were present at the meeting. Rubio later noted that the meeting did not involve any fine points of the deal.
Ukraine is concerned that Trump is moving towards settling the war on terms that could be more favorable to Moscow. Currently, Russia controls about a fifth of Ukraine’s internationally recognized territory. However, U.S. Vice President JD Vance assured the CPAC meeting on Thursday that Trump “wants the killing to stop” in Ukraine and that “peace is in the interest of the American people.” Vance also stated, “We’re on the cusp of peace.” He did not mention Ukraine’s role in settling the conflict, although U.S. officials have stated that both Kyiv and Moscow will be involved in the settlement and will have to make concessions to achieve peace.
In response to Trump’s recent remarks about Ukraine, European leaders have pledged to increase spending on defense and are considering a U.S.-backed European peacekeeping force for the country if the fighting ends. The Kremlin has expressed concern about this plan, but Zelenskyy and NATO have welcomed it.
In conclusion, the proposed deal between the U.S. and Ukraine for investments in mineral assets is a positive step towards ending the war in Ukraine. President Zelenskyy’s willingness to sign the deal and work towards peace is commendable, and the support from the U.S. and European leaders is crucial in achieving a lasting resolution. Let us hope that this deal will bring an end to the conflict and bring peace to Ukraine, Europe, America, and the entire world.
