U.S. and Ukraine move toward minerals deal despite Oval Office fallout

reuters

The U.S. and Ukraine are working to finalize a minerals deal that fell through after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s abrupt Oval Office exit last week, according to four sources familiar with the discussions.

Negotiations Resume After Diplomatic Clash

President Donald Trump is pushing to announce the agreement during his Congress address on Tuesday, though the deal has yet to be signed.

Talks resumed after a contentious White House meeting, where Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticized Zelenskyy, telling him to express more gratitude for U.S. aid instead of asking for more.

“You’re gambling with World War III,” Trump told Zelenskyy

Despite tensions, U.S. officials have urged Kyiv to move forward, with some advising Zelenskyy to issue an apology to help repair relations.

Zelenskyy Signals Readiness

On Tuesday, Zelenskyy posted on X (formerly Twitter), calling the Oval Office incident “regrettable” and reaffirming Ukraine’s readiness to sign the long-stalled minerals deal.

“Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer,” Zelenskyy wrote.

Deal Details & European Involvement

The original agreement, set to be signed last week, granted the U.S. access to revenues from Ukraine’s natural resources without offering explicit security guarantees.

Ukraine would contribute 50% of monetized state-owned resources to a U.S.-Ukraine reconstruction fund.
France and Britain have offered to deploy peacekeeping troops in Ukraine in case of a ceasefire, but seek U.S. backing—a move rejected by Moscow.

Strategic Win for Trump?

Former U.S. Ambassador Daniel Fried said the deal, if finalized, would be a win for Trump, allowing him to secure Zelenskyy’s regret statement and shift more security responsibility onto Europe.

“Trump can and should take the win,” Fried said, noting that it forces Europe to step up on Ukraine’s security.

With Trump signaling openness to the deal and Zelenskyy showing willingness to proceed, all eyes are on Tuesday’s Congress address for a potential announcement.

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