Future military assistance from the U.S. could count as contributions to the newly established joint investment fund, but prior aid will not.
Pre-existing projects, such as those owned by Ukraine‘s state-owned companies, will not be impacted by the minerals deal.
„Revenues from projects already launched or budgeted revenues are not included in the Fund. The agreement refers to further strategic cooperation,“ First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said.
Ukraine and the United States will establish a U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund to attract global investments into the country. The relevant agreement was signed on Wednesday in Washington by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
„The Fund will be financed exclusively through revenue from NEW licenses – specifically, 50% of the proceeds from new licenses for critical materials and oil and gas projects that will flow into the budget after the Fund‘s creation. Revenues from already launched projects or budgeted income will not be included in the Fund,“ Svyrydenko wrote in a Facebook post.
The US Treasury Department on Wednesday announced that both countries signed the agreement. “As the President has said, the United States is committed to helping facilitate the end of this cruel and senseless war,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.
“This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump Administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term,” Bessent said. “And to be clear, no state or person who financed or supplied the Russian war machine will be allowed to benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine.”
“Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results,” Zelenskyy added.
Zelenskyy’s spokesman Sergii Nykyforov said the meeting took place in St. Peter’s Basilica and lasted about 15 minutes.https://www.politico.eu/article/volodymyr-zelenskyy-donald-trump-speak-rome-first-meeting-since-oval-office-bust-up-ukraine-russia-putin-war/
„We‘re going to meet with them (Russia) later on today and tomorrow, and hopefully, we‘ll be able to (work) out a deal. I think the ceasefire is very important,“ Trump said.
When asked if Zelensky would be invited back to the White House, the U.S. president responded, „Sure, absolutely.“
Trump said in his address to Congress that he received that same message in a letter from Zelensky. He read Zelensky‘s statement aloud, apparently presenting the message as a sign of successful U.S. pressure on Kyiv. Trump added that his team had held discussions with Russia and received „strong signals“ that Moscow is ready to make peace.
„Wouldn‘t that be beautiful?“ he said.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
The Ukrainian leader said he was ready to release Russian prisoners of war, stop long-range drone and missile strikes aimed at Russian targets, and declare a truce at sea immediately — moves that he said would help establish a pathway to peace.
Only, however, “if Russia will do the same,” he added.
He explained that, in his opinion, the most important thing is not the public statements, such as President Zelenskyy saying he was committed to peace or apologizing to the president. He emphasized that what matters more is what the Ukrainians do to get meaningfully involved in what a peaceful settlement would look like. He stated that they need Ukrainians to come to them privately and say what they need, what they want, and how they will participate in the process of ending the conflict. He concluded that this lack of private participation is what concerns them the most.
Vice President JD Vance told reporters on Capitol Hill that Ukraine must “come to the table and start negotiating” in order for aid to be restored and that President Donald Trump is still committed to a rare minerals deal.
Trump called it „the worst statement that could have been made“ and accused Zelensky of not wanting peace „as long as he has America‘s backing.“
Zelensky countered that Ukraine needs real peace and that no one wants it more than Ukrainians, as the war continues to devastate cities and claim lives.
„Peace is needed as soon as possible,“ he said.
According to the president, Ukraine continues to work with partners and is preparing for other steps in the near future.
“It is very important that we try to make our diplomacy really substantive to end this war the soonest possible. We need real peace and Ukrainians want it most because the war ruins our cities and towns. We lose our people,” Zelenskyy noted.
He stressed that the war must be stopped and security guaranteed.
“It is what I was saying, this guy doesn’t want there to be Peace as long as he has America’s backing and, Europe, in the meeting they had with Zelenskyy, stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the U.S. — Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia,” Trump added in his post. “What are they thinking?”
Gathering in London at the invitation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain, the leaders vowed to bolster support for President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine after his bitter clash with Mr. Trump last week. But several also expressed hope that the two could repair their breach, underscoring Europe’s reluctance to cast off a trans-Atlantic alliance that has kept the peace for 80 years.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that he is still ready to sign a minerals deal with the United States. He made the comments to British media in London, explaining that he believed he could salvage his relationship with US President Donald Trump after their explosive meeting in the Oval Office.
Trump and Vance may delight in shocking Europe, but their counterparts across the pond are coming to terms with the collapse of a united West. “Trump’s rhetoric melds with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s,” wrote Le Monde columnist Alain Frachon. “In less than two weeks, concessions to Moscow have piled up. Even if they had already been in the pipeline since Joe Biden’s administration: No Ukraine in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); no NATO forces to monitor a possible ceasefire; necessary territorial concessions from Kyiv.”
Starmer went on to say that the cheering at Zelenskyy’s arrival was “the people of the United Kingdom coming out to demonstrate how much they support you, how much they support Ukraine, and our absolute determination to stand with you, unwavering determination and to achieve what we both want to achieve, which is a lasting peace — a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine.”
President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street in London, following the Ukrainian leader‘s clash with US President Donald Trump.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived at Downing Street for a meeting with Keir Starmer.
„We want peace,“ Trump told reporters following the meeting which, he said, „didn‘t work exactly great.“
„He (Zelensky) overplayed his hand (…) we are not looking to go into a 10-year-war and play games, we want peace. He‘s going to have to make peace. He‘s got to stop the fighting, he‘s got to stop the death,“ Trump said, adding that Russia‘s President Vladimir Putin „wants to end it.“
Zelenskyy said he was „not sure that we did something bad“ when asked about the heated exchange but conceded the dustup was „bad for both sides.“
„I just want to be honest, and I just want our partners to understand the situation correctly, and I want to understand everything correctly. That‘s about us not to lose our friendship,“ he later said.
In an interview with Fox News on Feb. 28, President Volodymyr Zelensky attempted to mend any fractured relations that may have emerged following a heated exchange in the White House between himself and U.S. President Donald Trump earlier in the day.
Präsident Petr Pavel schrieb auf X, man stehe jetzt mehr als jemals zuvor an der Seite der Ukraine. Ähnlich äußerten sich auch Premier Petr Fiala (Bürgerdemokraten), Außenminister Jan Lipavský (parteilos) sowie weitere Spitzenpolitiker.
A No 10 spokesperson said: „The prime minister has tonight spoken to both President Trump and President Zelensky.
„He retains unwavering support for Ukraine, and is doing all he can to find a path forward to a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security for Ukraine.
„The prime minister looks forward to hosting international leaders on Sunday including President Zelensky.“
Here are 33 previous examples of Zelensky thanking or expressing gratitude toward the United States, its officials or its people for their support. This is not a comprehensive list. Notably, we did not review Zelensky’s many domestic remarks in Ukrainian.
Albares reiterates to Andrii Sybiha that “Spain is and will be with Ukraine” and his Ukrainian counterpart thanks him for “Spain’s continued support”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk voiced supported for Ukraine following the dispute between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Feb. 28.
„Dear Volodymyr Zelensky, dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone,“ Tusk wrote on X.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian delegation left the White House without any comments to the press.
The live broadcast of the National Telethon showed footage of Zelenskyy leaving the building and getting into the car in which he arrived for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Zelenskyy did not give any comments to the press.
President Donald Trump on Friday canceled a planned news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after a contentious meeting in the White House. During the meeting, Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused Zelensky of being insufficiently grateful for U.S. support in the war with Russia. Zelensky “is not ready for Peace,” Trump wrote on social media. Trump said Zelensky had “disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office” and “can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
Donald Trump’s Oval Office meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky descended into a shouting match with the US president abruptly ending the conversation and throwing reporters out.
Mr Trump told the Ukrainian president he was “gambling with World War Three” as their meeting became heated.
The Ukrainian president told Mr Trump the rare earth minerals deal being negotiated by the two leaders was not enough for his country.
Mr Trump in turn accused Mr Zelensky of being “very disrespectful”.
JD Vance, the vice president, intervened, asking Mr Zelensky: “have you said thank you once?”
As voices were raised, Mr Trump told the Ukrainian leader that “you have to be thankful”.
“You either make a deal, or we are out,” the president warned.
Mr Trump then abruptly ended the meeting saying he thought it was enough, with the press abruptly ushered out.