KYIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday balked by signing a mineral right contract with the US, which is considered a repayment of previous aid given under the Biden administration.
While President Trump has called for such an agreement, Ukraine has been seeking new security guarantees or fresh military funds in exchange for its minerals.
“I don't recognize it [that Kyiv owes the US] Zelensky told reporters at a press conference one day before the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.
“We agreed with Biden that this is a grant. Grants are not debt,” Zelensky said.
Trump has given Ukraine an estimated $350 billion in recent weeks to defend it from Russia, and a contract to give Ukraine critical and rare minerals worth hundreds of millions of dollars has been inaccurately repeated in order to defend Ukraine. Backpay for assistance provided to Kiev before he took office.
The reality is that Congress approved about $183 billion for Ukraine under the Biden administration. Of this, more than $65 billion was spent in the United States, and Washington purchased new weapons from its American stockpile after using US weapons on Kiev after Washington's donation.
Still, despite Sunday in Zelensky's harsh words, there were strong signs that Ukraine was approaching a kind of agreement with the US on a mineral right arrangement.
General Keith Kellogg, Trump's envoy to Ukraine, met Zelensky and his cabinet during a intensive three-day diplomatic trip to Kiev last week, with some of their discussions focusing on the mineral trade. .
When Kellogg left Ukraine on Friday, Zelensky's office told him he was certain the Ukrainian president would negotiate a mineral rights deal with the United States. , “Posts can be exclusively revealed.
In response, Kellogg said that leaders in the US and Ukrainians can “change everything for the better.”
Washington and Kiev continued to cast details of the contract on Sunday as Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Swillidenko and President's Office director Andri Yermack negotiated with US counterparts in the afternoon.
Given that Trump will provide incentives to protect Ukraine from Russian attacks, Zelensky was asked whether the very existence of the transaction would be considered a security guarantee, but Zelensky partially agreed, but such a thing He said the promises must be in writing. Trump doesn't always become president.
“The United States knows that this agreement is part of the security guarantee. [agree]But these should be written as security guarantees, not just you and me. [that’s the case]The Ukrainian president told the Post.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent each have had such arguments with the Ukrainian president in recent weeks, he said.
“A lot of people say that the United States has that logic, and they have the right to that logic,” Zelensky told the Post.
“They say, “Look, say we are.” [make such an agreement,] These are safety guarantees as Russians don't go to places where minerals are present. [would be] Our business, these are our private companies and everything will go well,” he said. “But, if [Putin] I want to, nothing stops him from repeatedly stopping his aggression. ”
Zelensky said that assurances that the US will protect potential Ukrainian assets would need to write, for example, “There will be no Russian attacks under Trump.”
“This is not out of respect or disrespect for President Trump, but he will not be here forever and we have needed peace for many years,” the Ukrainian leader said.
That stance comes from the fact that Ukraine is not in such a desperate position that it needs to end its country's defense soon. And a ceasefire may prove to benefit Moscow as its economy and military continues to suffer for the war. Kirilo Budanov, director of the intelligence reporting department of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, said on Sunday.
“We continue to study the weak side of our enemy,” Budanov said. “When it comes to ceasefires, Russia actually needs it. Russia is in the process of reviving its economy, stockpiling additional resources, preparing its troops, reorganizing units, and promoting new attacks on Ukraine. , you need to hold your breath.”
Ultimately, Zelensky said he “is not going to sign anything bad for Ukraine.” That includes a ceasefire agreement with Russia, where Washington's signal that Trump could end the fight with an agreement with Moscow, does not have a concrete future security guarantee. Early like this week.
“We don't trust them,” Zelensky said of Russia.
