Zelenskyy's visit with Trump to be a battle of wills in the Oval Office
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has been browbeating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into signing a “breakthrough agreement” that would give the U.S. access to his country’s minerals, oil and natural gas.
Both nations have agreed to the deal in concept: Ukraine would deposit 50% of the revenues earned from future investments in government-owned natural resources into a jointly controlled fund.
But the framework agreement does not currently include security guarantees that have been insisted on by Ukraine.
A battle of wills is expected to ensue between the leaders on Friday, when Zelenskyy gets his first-ever, sit-down in the Oval Office with Trump. In one chair, Zelenskyy, who has forcefully advocated for firm guarantees of American military support. In the other, Trump, who wants Ukraine to repay the U.S. for its previous contributions.
First, a mineral deal signing, Trump has said. Then, a discussion about potential U.S. military support for Kyiv could take place. That conversation would come later in the context of talks with Russia to bring its yearslong assault on Ukraine to an end.
He said Thursday that the presence of American workers in Ukraine would be the backstop against future Russian aggression.
“I don’t think anybody’s going to play around if we’re there with a lot of workers,” Trump said.
The agreement to establish a jointly owned venture would be the start of a complicated process. Ukraine's infrastructure would need to be rebuilt, and private companies would have to agree to open mines, experts say. The U.S. may not see proceeds from the deal for up to two decades.
Ukraine also needs to conduct updated geological mapping. As it stands, mining companies could dig and find out Ukraine does not have viable minerals, Trump acknowledged on Thursday.
Even so, he called it a “breakthrough agreement” that would effectively allow taxpayers to be “reimbursed” for the military hardware it has already sent to Ukraine. The deal would also help the U.S. to refill its own stockpiles, Trump said.
Trump has been fixated on recouping money America spent on the war before he took office — especially when it comes to how much the U.S. has spent compared to its European allies. He has been particularly vexed by a funding mechanism that could see Europe collect some of the money it sent Ukraine back by structuring it as a loan.
The U.S. has provided roughly $106 billion to Ukraine since the war started, roughly $9 billion of which was forgivable loans. The European Union says it has spent $145 billion, almost 65% of which came from grants or in-kind support. The other 35% came from loans. The amount includes refugee assistance. Europe and the United States are also sending money to Ukraine that it makes off Russia's frozen assets.
Zelenskyy has said that as part of his talks with Trump, he would discuss using the frozen assets to purchase weapons. He said he also planned to ask Trump directly whether the United States intends to halt it military support.
Trump softens criticism of Zelenskyy
The agreed upon framework for the minerals deal is a climbdown from the $500 billion agreement that Trump had been pushing. Zelenskyy rejected that bid outright.
His refusal prompted an onslaught of criticism from Trump, who called him a “dictator without elections” amid a days-long back and forth.
At the White House on Thursday, Trump said they would be having a “good conversation." Trump said he wants to work with his counterpart. “The president and I actually have had a very good relationship. It maybe got a little bit testy because we wanted a little bit of what the European nations have.”
Does he still think Zelenskyy is a dictator? “Did I say that? I can’t believe I said that. Next question," Trump said, giving a slight grin as he backtracked.
Zelenskyy's visit to the White House on Friday will be his second in-person meeting with Trump since the election. They also met in December in Paris.
The Ukrainian leader infamously sought but never obtained an invitation to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue during the Republican president's first term. Trump was impeached in the House but acquitted in the Senate of high crimes and misdemeanors after he pressured Zelenskyy to investigate his political opponents.
They have tussled over U.S. military support for Ukraine ever since, with Trump putting precious post-inauguration political capital toward making a deal with Russia to end the war.
In a social media post confirming his meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy on Wednesday stressed the importance of continued military support.
“Peace and security guarantees are the key to ensuring that Russia can no longer destroy the lives of other nations,” Zelenskyy said. “For me and for all of us in the world, it’s important that U.S. support is not stopped. Strength is needed on the path to peace.”
European officials were aghast at Trump’s attacks on Zelenskyy and his administration's unilateral talks with Russia.
French President Emmanuel Macron rushed to Washington on Monday, in an attempt to steer Trump toward a deal that can last and a post-war security framework that would involve U.S.-backed peacekeeping troops.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer tried his hand on Thursday. Starmer said the UK would play its “full part” if there is a peace agreement and the UK is ready to put boots on the ground and planes in the air.
“The British don’t need much help, they can take care of themselves very well,” Trump said. “But if they need help, I’ll always be with the British,” he added.
Trump insisted that the security guarantees would be “the easy part,” while the difficult part would be getting a peace deal made. “You're talking about a peacekeeping force, we have to make a deal first. Right now we don’t have a deal,” Trump said.
But he suggested he was open to a discussion. Trump said after he was asked about the potential for intelligence cooperation. “We’re open to many things.”
NATO membership is 'not going to happen'
Trump’s team had been hoping to strike a deal to end the war by the end of April. But the U.S. president acknowledged on Thursday during his appearance with Starmer that a peace agreement may not ultimately pan out.
“If it doesn’t happen quickly, it may not happen at all,” Trump said, repeating the sentiment more than once.
Were a deal to come through, it would not include NATO membership for Ukraine, Trump said, ruling out a significant security guarantee ahead of Zelenskyy's arrival in the United States.
“Look, it’s just not going to happen. It’s just not going to happen,” Trump said.
As for the territory that Russia has taken from Ukraine, dating back to its 2014 invasion of Crimea, Trump made no explicit promises. "We're going to certainly try and get as much as we can back," he said.