Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is getting ready to fulfill with Vice President JD Vance on the Munich Safety Convention later this week after confirming on Friday he is able to “do a deal” with President Donald Trump.
In keeping with an interview with Reuters, Zelenskyy mentioned he was prepared to provide the U.S. with rare-earth minerals in trade for Washington’s continued backing of its struggle effort.
“If we’re speaking a few deal, then let’s do a deal, we’re just for it,” Zelenskyy mentioned.
ZELENSKYY WANTS NUKES OR NATO; TRUMP SPECIAL ENVOY KELLOGG SAYS ‘SLIM AND NONE’ CHANCE
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has mentioned he is able to “do a deal” with President Trump about Ukraine’s rare-earth minerals in trade for continued monetary assist. (AP Picture/Laurent Cipriani)
The Ukrainian president has made clear he’s additionally open to partaking in peace talks with Russia to finish the three-year-long struggle, although attainable phrases for securing a peace deal stay diversified and unknown.
Although Zelenskyy has mentioned he’s on the lookout for “ensures” in relation to future safety assurances for the war-torn nation.
These safety assurances will doubtless have to be greater than a proper handshake paired with a signed doc, as Russia has twice violated its final settlement with Ukraine, often known as the 1994 Budapest Memorandum.
The deal noticed Kyiv hand over its nuclear arsenal to Moscow for dismantlement in trade for sovereignty and independence ensures from Russia, the U.S. and the U.Okay. Nevertheless, the settlement didn’t cease Russia from invading Ukraine twice below Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelenskyy apparently first floated the concept of buying and selling Ukraine’s mineral assets – roughly 20% of that are positioned in now Russian managed territory, together with half of the rare-earth selection – below his “victory plan” first introduced to Western allies final fall, reported Reuters.
Uncommon-earth supplies are used within the manufacturing of shopper electronics and electrical engines. Zelenskyy has warned that Russia might give these assets to its allies like North Korea and Iran – the latter of which the U.S. simply final week started to much more closely sanction.
TRUMP’S FOURTH WEEK IN OFFICE COULD INCLUDE MEETING WITH ZELENSKYY, IRONING OUT STEEL DEAL
Former President Donald Trump meets with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Trump Tower, Sept. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Picture/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
“We have to cease Putin and defend what we’ve got – a really wealthy Dnipro area, central Ukraine,” Zelenskyy reportedly mentioned.
Whereas Trump won’t attend the Munich Safety Convention, Zelenskyy will lead the Ukrainian delegation there and is reportedly expected to meet with Vance and particular envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg.
Trump informed reporters final week that Zelenskyy might journey to D.C. within the week following the safety convention, which runs Feb. 14-16, at which era each presidents will as soon as once more meet to debate the struggle.
“I might prefer to see that struggle finish,” Trump informed reporters final week. “We’re seeking to do a take care of Ukraine the place they will safe what we’re giving them with their uncommon earth and different issues.”
Russia’s struggle effort in japanese Ukraine continues to rage, and Moscow on Friday claimed it had captured the mining city of Toretsk within the Donetsk area regardless of Ukraine’s months-long makes an attempt to cease Russian advances.
TRUMP PLANS TO MEET WITH ZELENSKYY AS HE LOOKS TO END UKRAINE WAR
The ruins of the town of Toretsk are within the Donetsk area, japanese Ukraine, on Dec. 19, 2024. Russia, on Feb. 7, 2025, claimed to have lastly seized the mining metropolis. (Ukrinform/NurPhoto through Getty Photographs)
As Moscow continues to see incremental positive aspects in japanese Ukraine, Kyiv can also be pushing ahead with its personal makes an attempt to grab Russian territory, which safety specialists have informed Fox Information Digital might be an try to present it higher bargaining leverage come the time for ceasefire talks with Moscow.
Zelenskyy additionally mentioned on Friday that Ukraine had opened a brand new offensive in Russia’s Kursk area, the place Kyiv first started its incursion in August 2024.
“Within the areas of the Kursk operation, new assaults have taken place,” Zelenskyy mentioned throughout his nightly handle. “Russia has as soon as once more deployed North Korean troopers alongside its troops.”
Ukrainian forces struggle within the Kursk area in Malaya Loknya, Russia, on this display seize obtained from a handout video launched on Aug. 20, 2024. (Air Assault Brigade/Handout through Reuters)
It’s unclear if North Korea has despatched extra troops to Russia after its preliminary deployment of as many as 12,000 males final October, although South Korean intelligence has warned Pyongyang is planning to take action.
Zelenskyy Sunday night time mentioned Ukrainian troops in Kursk “show extremely efficient enemy destruction,” although he didn’t element any casualty charges amongst Russian or North Korean troops.
“We should maintain all our positions firmly,” he mentioned. “The stronger we stand on the entrance traces, the stronger our diplomacy – our work with companions – will likely be.”
