The White House national security adviser, Mike Waltz, announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to sign a minerals agreement with the United States imminently. This deal would grant the United States access to Ukraine's significant deposits of critical minerals, including aluminum, gallium, and titanium. These resources are vital for advanced technology manufacturing, such as semiconductors, and hold considerable military applications.
The proposed partnership marks a pivotal step for the United States to recoup some of its substantial investments in Ukraine's defense, which have exceeded $175 billion. Unlike European nations whose contributions are primarily in the form of loans repaid through interest on frozen Russian assets, the US aid to Ukraine has been in direct funding. This strategic minerals agreement was first broached by Zelenskyy last September as part of his "victory plan," which sought US investment in Ukraine's mineral resources.
The US's interest in developing Ukraine's rare earth mineral resources aligns with its broader strategic objectives. However, the diplomatic landscape is complicated by recent tensions. Zelenskyy found himself excluded from US-Russian talks held in Saudi Arabia this week, fueling discord between him and former President Donald Trump. Trump dismissed Zelenskyy's complaints about being left out of peace negotiations.
"I don't think he's very important to be at meetings." – Donald Trump
In response, Zelenskyy accused Trump of being ensnared in a "disinformation bubble," to which Trump retaliated by labeling the Ukrainian leader a dictator. Mike Waltz commented on the ongoing tensions, urging Zelenskyy to "tone it down" and sign the proposed minerals agreement.
"Here's the bottom line: President Zelenskyy is going to sign that deal, and you will see that in the very short term." – Mike Waltz
Waltz also voiced his frustration over the lack of progress in past meetings involving Zelenskyy and Trump, noting the challenges faced over three years of diplomacy.
"He's been at meetings for three years with a president who didn't know what the hell he was doing. He's been in meetings for three years and nothing got done." – Donald Trump
While these diplomatic entanglements continue, high-profile speeches at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) have drawn attention. JD Vance, Steve Bannon, and Elon Musk were among the speakers, with Trump scheduled to close the event on Saturday.
Amidst these developments, the White House is intensifying diplomatic engagement with European leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to visit Washington on Monday, followed by UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday. These visits aim to solidify international support and cooperation amidst shifting geopolitical priorities.