Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the United States on Thursday ahead of talks with US President Donald Trump on an agreement to develop minerals and rare earths, Interfax Ukraine news agency reported.
The two world leaders are expected to discuss the rare earths deal, protection from Russia and how European nations can share the burden of the costs of security for Ukraine.
“I want to coordinate our position with the American position. The war is in Ukraine, so for me, the Ukrainian position is the priority,” Zelensky said during a press conference in Kyiv Wednesday.
The deal will grant the US 50% of revenue from Ukrainian critical and rare-earth mineral sales, but does not include any security guarantees beyond the American economic stake.
“I want to tell President Trump how I understand the position of our partners from Europe, because we’ve [had] a lot of consultations, and I think I know what they are ready for, and how they can help, and what strategic role the EU — even the [whole of] Europe — will play for Ukraine … in future security guarantees.”
Zelensky also reiterated his position that any cease-fire or peace deal with Russia must include Ukraine and said he will insist that current US sanctions be kept in place.
“A lot of things depend on the decision of President Trump, because also European partners will look at this,” Zelensky said. “This is [a] very important moment.”
The two have met multiple times in recent months, with the 47-year-old Ukrainian leader flying to New York for a meeting with Trump at Trump Tower in Manhattan on Sept. 27, 2024.
Trump and Zelensky also spoke at the reopening of Paris’ Notre-Dame Cathedral in December.
Before taking his trip to the US, Zelensky praised Trump for meeting with home before his highly anticipated encounter with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I have questions, and we very [much] need answers, very honest answers, because we are at war, and we have to to understand on what we can count,” he said. “And that’s why this visit before Putin is a very good signal.”
With Post wires
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