KYIV – The United States has presented Ukraine with a revised rare earth mineral contract after the initial proposal was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The “improved” draft deal, first reported by Axios, comes after President Trump and Zelensky spent the week trading barbs. “Don'tator.”
Trump is getting heated by securing a deal to acquire US billions of dollars worth of rare earth minerals in exchange for US support in Kiev's war against Russia.
The US president sees the move as a way to get the billions he provided to Ukraine in a nearly three-year war with Russia, but said Zelensky has not made enough progress on protecting his country.
The initial plan announced last week by Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent said the US would value 50% of Ukraine's rare mineral stocks at $500 billion.
Zelensky quickly rejected the initial plan, citing lack of security assurances, but White House officials put pressure on Ukraine to return to the table.
“Scott Becent actually went there and essentially said to him 'no' so he was treated pretty rudely,” Trump said Wednesday. “He's back empty. They won't sign the documents.”
National Security Advisor Michael Waltz went further, calling the lack of agreement “unacceptable.”
“What all governments did in his first term and everything in the US did for Ukraine, that's exactly what it was, that's not acceptable,” Waltz said in “Fox & Friends.”
“They need to tone it down,” Waltz added.
Waltz, who is from the White House podium, reiterated again that Kiev needed to reach an agreement.
“He needs to go back to the table,” he said, referring to Zelensky on Thursday afternoon. “We will continue to debate where the transaction is heading. Also. Taxpayers are obligated.”
Zelensky met with Saudi Russian officials without Ukraine's presence on Thursday afternoon after meeting with Ukrainian envoy Keith Kellogg, despite the war of words between Trump and Ukrainian leaders. , sounded optimistic about finding an end to the war.
The Ukrainian president wrote on Telegram that he is ready to talk about peace with the United States, including provisions on the release of Ukrainian hostages and “security guarantees” that will prevent Russia from entering again.
“We have provided the fastest and most constructive way to achieve results. Our team is ready to work 24/7,” he writes.
The White House did not comment on the new draft.
“We don't check or deny the terms of the discussion because we don't intend to attack. As the last few days have demonstrated, I don't think the best venue for discussion is through the media,” said the White House relationship. The person told the post.
