Zelenskyy Expected to Sign US Minerals Deal Soon, Says Trump Official
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to sign a minerals agreement with the United States in the near future as part of broader ceasefire discussions with Russia. Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Friday, Waltz emphasized the deal’s imminent finalization.
“President Zelenskyy is going to sign that deal, and you will see that in the very short term,” Waltz declared during his remarks at CPAC.
This development comes amid heightened tensions between Zelenskyy and former President Donald Trump, with Waltz recently urging the Ukrainian leader to “tone it down” and move forward with the proposed agreement. The deal would grant the United States access to Ukraine’s critical mineral deposits, including aluminum, gallium, and tritium—materials essential for advanced technology, nuclear research, semiconductors, and military applications.
According to Waltz, the agreement is being framed as a way for American taxpayers to recover some of the $175 billion in US aid that has been provided to Ukraine. He noted that discussions about the partnership originated last September when Zelenskyy outlined a “victory plan” that sought US investment, though details on US involvement in Ukraine’s rare earth mineral development remain unclear.
Last week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent presented Zelenskyy with a draft proposal in which Ukraine would provide approximately $500 billion worth of rare earth elements to the US.
Tensions between Washington and Kyiv escalated further after Ukraine was excluded from US-Russian negotiations in Saudi Arabia. Following the exclusion, Zelenskyy openly criticized the move, prompting Trump to issue a sharp response, accusing the Ukrainian leader of having “started” the war. In turn, Zelenskyy accused Trump of being influenced by “disinformation,” which led Trump to label him a dictator.
Despite the strained relationship, Waltz, who recently returned from Saudi Arabia after meetings with Russian officials, suggested that peace talks are advancing. He claimed that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy acknowledged Trump’s leadership as pivotal in brokering an end to the conflict, stating that “only he could drive an end to this war.”
Waltz also took the opportunity to criticize European financial commitments to Ukraine, arguing that European support has primarily taken the form of loans—often backed by interest generated from frozen Russian assets—while US assistance has been provided as direct funding.
The push to finalize the minerals deal aligns with the Trump administration’s broader diplomatic efforts in Europe. Waltz highlighted that French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to visit Washington on Monday, underscoring continued US engagement with European allies.
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