U.S. and Ukraine could sign minerals deal tonight, sources say
The United States and Ukraine could sign the much-anticipated minerals deal as early as this evening.
Reuters has reported three sources said that President Donald Trump told his advisers he wants to announce the agreement in his address to Congress Tuesday evening’, but stressed the deal has not yet been signed.
The deal had been put off after a nightmareish meeting on Friday in the Oval Office when Trump and Vice President JD Vance tore into Volodymyr Zelensky over the war.
Earlier today, Zelensky said he now ‘stands ready to work under Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts’.
Hours earlier, the US paused life-saving military aid to Ukraine, which is critical to defend against waves of Russian ballistic missiles, as a ‘punishment’.
The Ukrainian president said Friday’s meeting in the Oval Office of the White House was ‘regrettable’ and ‘did not go the way it was supposed to be’.
Zelensky offered his country’s rare-earth minerals for security guarantees, and vowed to ‘sign it in any time and any convenient format’.
He wrote on X: ‘None of us wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.’
Paving a route to end the war, Zelensky said the first stages could be the release of prisoners and a mutual truce involving a ban on missiles, long-range drones, bombs on energy and other civilian infrastructure and a truce in the sea.
‘Then we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the US to agree a strong final deal,’ he added.
Reiterating gratitude for US support after JD Vance accused him for not being thankful enough, Zelensky added: ‘We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence.
‘And we remember the moment when things changed when President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins. We are grateful for this.’
What minerals does Ukraine have?
Some of the rich minerals Ukraine has include graphite, uranium, titanium and lithium, a key component in electric car batteries.
Ukraine has the largest lithium resources in all of Europe. Much of the fighting in the war has been centred around areas rich in minerals.
Lanthanum and cerium are used in televisions and lighting – while erbium and yttrium are used in nuclear power and lasers.
The untapped mineral resources in Ukraine are estimated to be worth more than £12 trillion, according to Forbes.
Zelensky’s meeting with Starmer
Zelensky and Starmer also met this weekend (Picture: Getty)
The statement was shared after the wartime leader spoke with Sir Keir Starmer this afternoon, Downing Street has said.
A spokeswoman said: ‘The Prime Minister spoke to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, this afternoon. The Prime Minister updated on his discussion with President Trump last night. It was vital that all parties worked towards a lasting and secure peace for Ukraine as soon as possible, the Prime Minister added.
‘Turning to President Zelensky’s most recent calls for further diplomatic efforts to achieve the swiftest possible end to the war, the Prime Minister welcomed President Zelensky’s steadfast commitment to securing peace.
‘Underscoring that any peace for Ukraine needed to be lasting and secure, the Prime Minister said no one wanted peace more than Ukraine. The leaders agreed to stay in close touch in the coming days.’
It remains unclear if – behind the scenes – Britain tried to talk the US out of suspending military aid for Ukraine. But Starmer spoke to Trump about the need to secure a lasting peace in Ukraine yesterday.
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