Trump, Zelenskiy to Meet Amid Shift in U.S. Ukraine Policy, Sign Minerals Deal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday to sign a critical minerals deal as Kyiv seeks to secure continued U.S. support against Russia. The agreement grants Washington access to Ukraine’s vast mineral resources but lacks security guarantees, raising concerns in Kyiv.

Unlike the Biden administration, which provided Ukraine with billions in military aid, Trump has expressed a desire to end the war quickly, improve U.S.-Russia relations, and recover American funds spent on Ukraine. His shift in stance has unsettled European allies, who fear a settlement favoring Moscow.

The minerals deal, negotiated in recent days, allows the U.S. to recoup some war-related expenses through a joint reconstruction fund, financed by revenues from Ukraine’s natural resources, including rare earth minerals. Trump has publicly criticized Zelenskiy’s wartime leadership but recently praised Ukraine’s military and expressed optimism about ending the conflict.

During a press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump stated, "We’re working hard to get that war brought to an end," without providing specifics. Starmer emphasized the need for a peace deal shaped by Ukraine and backed by strength, offering British peacekeeping forces on the ground. Trump, however, did not commit U.S. troops.

Under the agreement, Ukraine will allocate 50% of revenues from its state-owned natural resources, including minerals, oil, gas, and infrastructure, to a joint U.S.-Ukraine reconstruction fund. While the deal may attract Republican support for new aid packages, it does not guarantee continued American military assistance, leaving Ukraine’s long-term security uncertain.