Ukraine is willing to sign mineral deals a few days after Trump-Zelensky agreement collapses
Washington – Ukrainian officials have told their U.S. counterparts that they are willing to sign a key mineral agreement, days later, after signing the deal at the White House explode During a fierce Oval Office meeting between President Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vice President JD Vance.
Minister of Finance Scott BessentCBS News “Facing the Country” host Margaret Brennan asked one of the negotiators who spoke with Zelenskyy about the mineral deal on Sunday, who asked about the economic deal on Sunday.
“Not at the moment,” he replied.
Several sources said the agreement has not been completed. A familiar with the talks said the parameters of the agreement could change because the president is now insisting on “bigger, better deals.”
Administration officials told CBS there was no plan on Mr. Trump or his top adviser to sign the deal Tuesday afternoon.
“No one wants peace more than Ukrainians,” Zelenskyy wrote in a lengthy social media post on Tuesday. “My team and I are ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership for continued peace.”
About 20% of Ukrainian land (the eastern Donbas region and Crimea) are now under Russian control. The occupied territory includes a large part of Ukraine’s mineral reservesinclude Rare Earth Elements Used for defense, aerospace, technology and energy production.
Ukraine is believed to account for about 5% of the world’s total rare earth reserves. By comparison, the United States covers about 12 times its land, which is estimated to account for only 1-2% of the world’s rare earths.
Tucker Reals contributed to the report.
