Trump Says Ukraine Will Agree to US Natural Resources Deal

US President Donald Trump says he is confident that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will ultimately agree to a natural resources deal with the United States, despite tensions stemming from their last meeting.

Zelensky has reaffirmed Ukraine’s readiness to finalize the minerals agreement, which was originally scheduled for signing during his visit to Washington on Feb. 28. However, the meeting was derailed by a contentious exchange between the leaders, leading the United States to suspend military aid to Ukraine. This week, officials from both nations are convening in Saudi Arabia to resume discussions.

The proposed agreement, still under negotiation, outlines the creation of an investment fund for Ukraine’s reconstruction, jointly managed by Kyiv and Washington. Under its terms, Ukraine would allocate 50% of future revenues from state-owned mineral resources, oil, and gas to the fund, while the United States would maintain a long-term financial commitment to Ukraine’s economic stability.

The issue of security guarantees remains unresolved. While Zelensky seeks firm commitments, the United States has yet to provide specific assurances beyond general support for Ukraine’s security efforts. Trump has suggested that the presence of US contractors in Ukraine could serve as a deterrent, but he maintains that responsibility for Ukraine’s defense should primarily rest with the European Union.

United States-Ukraine Meeting

Tensions escalated when US Vice President J.D. Vance accused Zelensky of being "disrespectful" to the United States, criticizing him for airing their disagreements publicly before the US media instead of addressing them behind closed doors. Zelensky continued challenging Vance’s grasp of Ukraine’s reality by asking, "Have you ever been to Ukraine to see what problems we have? Come once." 

The meeting further unraveled when Trump accused Zelensky of exploiting US military aid under President Joe Biden, claiming Ukraine was "taking money out of this country like candy from a baby." In the aftermath of the heated exchange, Trump suspended military and intelligence aid, seeking to pressure Zelensky into considering a truce that could pave the way for negotiations to end Russia’s three-year invasion. In response, Zelensky signaled conditional openness to a ceasefire, stipulating that Russia must first halt airstrikes and naval operations.