Zelenskyy Says “Ready to Sign” Minerals Deal with U.S. Following Tense Televised Spat with President Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is signaling that he is prepared to sign a long-delayed minerals deal with the United States, while also issuing a pointed reminder to the U.S. about the need for stronger support for Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia. The statement was made by the Ukrainian leader on Sunday during a weekend visit with European leaders.

“The agreement that’s on the table will be signed if the parties are ready,” Zelenskyy said in a late-night briefing with British media on Sunday, following a highly publicized London summit. “It is our policy to continue what happened in the past, we’re constructive,” he continued, “if we agreed to sign the minerals deal, we’re ready to sign it.”

The deal, which was supposed to be a step towards helping to end the conflict in Ukraine, fell through on Friday after a televised Oval Office clash with US President Donald Trump.

The meeting with President Trump quickly devolved into an argument, with Zelenskyy questioning Vice President Vance’s suggestion for diplomacy with Russia, insisting that Putin is not a reliable partner. Vance responded by calling Zelenskyy “disrespectful” and pointedly asking whether he had thanked the U.S. for its significant contributions. The Ukrainian president, who expressed a defiant tone with his arms folded, left a bitter taste for those in the Trump administration, particularly after the meeting broke down in a shouting match.  After the press was dismissed, so was Zelenskyy — without lunch and without a signed deal.

Following the fallout, in a Friday night interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier, Zelenskyy downplayed the situation, stating that the U.S.-Ukraine relationship could still be salvaged. For many, however, while his words acknowledged U.S. help, they still carried the attitude of a leader who seems more focused on having his way, while demanding more, than truly appreciating the sacrifices and attempts at peace, made on his behalf.

In a lengthy X thread the following day, Zelenskyy expressed his readiness to sign the minerals agreement that he had previously failed to finalize with President Trump on Friday. He took the opportunity to emphasize his dissatisfaction, declaring that a ceasefire without robust security guarantees for Ukraine is “dangerous” and implying that America’s backing for Ukraine must be unwavering. He also stated, “I want the U.S. to stand more firmly on our side,” reinforcing his perception that the U.S. needs to do more despite the billions already given.

“We are ready to sign the minerals agreement, and it will be the first step toward security guarantees. But it’s not enough, and we need more than just that. A ceasefire without security guarantees is dangerous for Ukraine. We’ve been fighting for 3 years, and Ukrainian people need to know that America is on our side.

The message was clear: while Ukraine may have received billions in aid, Zelenskyy believes that the U.S. should increase its commitment, implying that the support as it stands is insufficient.  Furthermore, Zelenskyy’s thread seemed to hint that security guarantees must be provided before negotiations with Russia can even be discussed.

The minerals deal itself, which was supposed to strengthen Ukraine’s position economically, was overshadowed by Friday’s televised fallout at the Oval Office. President Trump had framed the deal as a way to repay the U.S. for its military support, seeking to create a “reconstruction investment fund” that would channel revenue from Ukraine’s vast natural resources, including graphite, lithium, and titanium. In addition to recuperating the $175 billion, the deal would tie the security and economic interests of the United States with that of Ukraine — theoretically disincentivizing a Russian attack.

While Zelenskyy traveled to London for a summit with European leaders over the weekend, where he was warmly received by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, his failure to mend ties with the U.S. President loomed large. In the end, Zelenskyy’s request to move forward with the minerals deal, following a display that many have interpreted as a lack of gratitude or flexibility, might be too little, too late.