KYIV – President Trump's special envoy for the Ukrainian War urged Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky to sign a now-repeated mineral rights contract with Washington during his envoy's visit to Kiev last week, but Zelensky's staff chief insisted on signing the Oval Office on Friday.
After three days of intense negotiations, retired General Keith Kellogg secured a long-standing agreement with Ukraine, which provided Washington with 50% of all future revenues from the European country's favourable critical and rare earth minerals.
“Kellogg and Zelensky had agreed to a deal with one still-confirmed item,” a US official said of the talks that ended February 21.
When negotiations were finished, Chief of Staff Zelensky Andri Yamak called for the Ukrainian president to join Trump at the White House and sign the agreement.
Kellogg said, “I learned about the relationship and advised it on it.” [between the presidents] Authorities said it had to be strengthened before meeting in person.
However, a source familiar with Yermak's tactics said that Zelensky's office “continued to force the issue.”
Kellogg was ready to leave and nearly left Ukraine without a contract to present Trump.
However, Zelensky's office reversed the course in the last minute moments after the retired general boarded the train to Poland.
I was impressed by Kellogg's simple negotiations and exhibition of respect – including a visit with injured Ukrainian troops at a military hospital northwest of Kiev, Zelensky's office has rushed documents to a train that Kellogg could take back to Trump.
Even after close calls, Kiev has moved forward with plans to seal the deal in Washington. Gambling was caught up in a fierce exchange between Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance at the White House on Friday, and was then kicked out of the West Wing.
“Zelensky played it as wrong as he could play it,” said a senior US official. “He came to an oval that behaves like a tough guy. It didn't work. Everyone in the room felt insulted.
“Now Zelensky has to find a way to fix this himself. He can't fix it for him.”
Zelensky claimed at a press conference Wednesday that he was invited to the White House, but it was unclear whether he was referring to the permanent offer or if he was specifically invited to sign the contract.
Several Ukrainian sources said they suspected that the Zelensky team had forced a visit to the White House this week.
It didn't help that the Ukrainian president appeared at a critical meeting wearing casual pants and black-sleeved shirts rather than choosing a suit.
Former President Joe Biden may have tolerated dress code during the war, but he should have made abundantly clear to Ukrainians that Trump has better appreciated more formal attire, insiders said.
“Wearing a suit may sound like a small thing, and I know [President Zelensky] I like his military style, but that was the wrong choice,” a US official said.
According to Ukrainian parliament sources, Zelensky's minister ratified the mineral agreement in Kiev on Thursday.
The only thing left was Zelensky signing the document. This never happened after a dramatic display before the global press in an oval office.
The verbal volley spoke about Kiev shaking on Friday night, with Ukrainians disagreeing about which country's president was more negligent.
The paradox facing Zelensky is that many Ukrainians gathered behind him after some of Trump's previous f-humiliation, such as dubbing him as a “dictator” last week, but they understand that the United States is necessary to defeat the Moscow invasion at once.
