Zelenskyy ready to sign US minerals deal despite Trump row |
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that he is still “ready” to sign a minerals deal with the United States, despite a public clash with US President Donald Trump.
Following a heated meeting at the White House, which saw the cancellation of the signing ceremony, Zelenskyy has expressed confidence that the agreement can still move forward.
Speaking to the media at London Stansted airport after a two-day summit with European leaders, Zelenskyy made it clear that Ukraine was prepared to continue with the deal. “If we agreed upon signing it, we were ready to sign it,” he said, emphasising that the Ukrainian position must be heard in negotiations.
Zelenskyy also expressed hope that the United States would remain a supportive partner, citing the importance of continued aid from the US to counter Russian aggression.
The minerals deal, initially seen as a stepping stone to deeper security ties between the two nations, collapsed after a tense encounter between Zelenskyy, Trump, and US Vice President JD Vance.
During the meeting, Zelenskyy challenged Vance’s suggestion that diplomacy, rather than continued military support, was necessary to resolve the war with Russia. The exchange escalated, with Trump accusing the Ukrainian leader of overestimating his bargaining power.
Following the fallout, several Republican lawmakers, including Senator Lindsey Graham, suggested that Zelenskyy should resign if he was unable to negotiate effectively. Zelenskyy, however, rejected this notion as “undemocratic,” stating he would only step down if Ukraine achieved membership in NATO. “Then it means I have fulfilled my mission,” Zelenskyy remarked.
The Ukrainian leader also made it clear that he would return to Washington if invited, despite the public row. However, he avoided engaging in speculation about potential territorial concessions to Russia, a topic raised by some Trump officials as part of a peace plan.
Zelenskyy instead focused on the broader goal of maintaining Ukrainian independence and the importance of continued US support in the fight against Russian aggression. Zelenskyy’s comments came at the conclusion of a summit in London, where European leaders discussed the need for a united front to support Ukraine.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated that Europe must take the lead in securing a peace deal, though any agreement would require the backing of the United States. The leaders agreed to form a “coalition of the willing” to safeguard a peace agreement and defend Ukraine from future Russian aggression.
In his remarks, Zelenskyy pointed out that the best security guarantee for Ukraine lies in a strong national army. He also acknowledged that European nations would need continued US support, particularly in the areas of air defence and intelligence.
The summit’s discussions reflected the high stakes for Ukraine, with Zelenskyy stressing that a failure to support his country would be a failure for Europe and the US, and would embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy concluded by reiterating his belief that the US-Ukraine partnership would endure, despite the tensions that had recently surfaced.
