Zelenskyy to Visit White House for Major U.S.-Ukraine Mineral Agreement, Trump Announces

President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to visit the White House on Friday to finalize a significant agreement. This deal involves Ukraine allocating a portion of its mineral resource revenues to the United States as compensation for military assistance.

During his inaugural cabinet meeting, President Trump stated, “Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is coming on Friday, and we’re going to sign a very big agreement.” The proposed arrangement requires Ukraine to transfer 50% of its income from natural resources—including minerals, oil, and gas—to a U.S.-managed fund dedicated to investment projects within Ukraine. This fund aims to accumulate up to $500 billion.

Initially, President Zelenskyy expressed reservations about the proposal, particularly concerning the substantial financial commitment and the absence of explicit security assurances for Ukraine. In response, President Trump clarified that while the U.S. would not provide direct security guarantees, European nations would be encouraged to take on that role, given their geographical proximity and vested interest in regional stability.

Recent U.S.-Russia discussions in Saudi Arabia, which notably excluded Ukraine and European allies, have sparked debate over the direction of U.S. foreign policy. Despite facing criticism for his remarks about President Zelenskyy and commendations of Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Trump emphasized his commitment to negotiating concessions from Russia, including the potential return of territories seized during the conflict.

President Trump also suggested that Ukraine should abandon its aspirations to join NATO, implying that such ambitions may have been a catalyst for the ongoing conflict. He expressed intentions to engage directly with President Putin to negotiate a resolution to the war.

Since assuming office last month, President Trump has prioritized ending the war in Ukraine and reassessing U.S. military aid commitments. The forthcoming agreement with Ukraine represents a strategic shift, intertwining economic collaboration with diplomatic efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution.