Trump, Zelenskiy Clash Over U.S.-Ukraine Minerals Deal, But Talks Continue

A proposed U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal stalled after a tense Oval Office meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday. Trump and Vice President JD Vance rebuked Zelenskiy for seeking additional U.S. aid, urging him to show gratitude instead. The meeting ended abruptly, with Zelenskiy swiftly leaving the White House.

Despite the fallout, U.S. officials have continued discussions with Kyiv, pressing Zelenskiy’s advisers to encourage an apology to Trump. On Tuesday, Zelenskiy posted on X, calling the meeting "regrettable" and reaffirming Ukraine’s readiness to finalize the agreement.

The deal, originally set for signing last week, would grant the U.S. access to Ukraine’s natural resource revenues. It also mandates that Ukraine allocate 50% of any future monetization of state-owned resources to a joint U.S.-Ukraine reconstruction fund. However, it does not include security guarantees for Ukraine.

Trump, speaking to reporters on Monday, indicated openness to the agreement but insisted that Ukraine "should be more appreciative" of U.S. support, emphasizing that Washington has provided more aid than Europe.

Meanwhile, European nations, including France and Britain, have proposed deploying peacekeeping forces in Ukraine if a ceasefire is reached, though they seek U.S. backing. Moscow has dismissed such proposals.

Daniel Fried, a former senior U.S. diplomat, noted that securing both Zelenskiy’s acknowledgment and European commitment to Ukraine’s security would be political wins for Trump.

While U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent denied any imminent signing, the situation remains fluid, with renewed efforts to salvage the deal.