A controversial administration of Trump to allow a value of $ 500 billion in profits Ukrainian Minerals of rare earths to go to the United States in compensation for its assistance in wartime in kyiv were withdrawn from the table, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy Said Sunday, indicating that a more equitable case is underway.
Zelenskyy had previously refused a draft American agreement on the exploitation of the precious minerals of his country such as the lithium used in the aerospace, defense and nuclear industries because it did not contain security guarantees and was delivered with the price of $ 500 billion.
“The question of $ 500 billion is no longer there,” Zelenskyy said at a press conference during a forum of government officials in kyiv marking the three -year anniversary of the large -scale invasion of Ukraine in Russia.
The Ukrainian chief said that considering aid as a debt to be reimbursed would be a “pandora box” which would establish a precedent demanding that Kyiv reimburses all his donors.
“We do not recognize debt,” said Zelenskyy. “It will not be in the final format of the agreement.”
No other details were given on the state of the negotiations. Ukraine insisted on security guarantees that it must dissuade any potential Russian aggression in the future.
Trump’s special envoy in the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, said CNN’s “union” that he expects to agree this week allowing the United States to play a greater role in the exploitation of mineral resources in Ukraine.
The Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, told Fox News that the administration mineral plan was to create a US-Ukraine partnership, calling it “win-win”.
“We earn money if the Ukrainian people earn money,” said Bessent.
Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, left the Kyiv Forum early with economic minister Yulia Svyryrydenko for what Yermak said he was discussions with US officials on a potential agreement.
Later Sunday, Yermak posted on social networks that he had spoken with American officials, including Bessent and the Trump National Security Advisor Mike Walz, saying that it was a “constructive conversation”.
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“We are progressing,” wrote Yermak. “The United States is our partner and we are grateful to the American people.”
Zelenskyy says he would abandon the presidency for adherence to NATO
In response to a sharp question of a journalist to find out if he would abandon his presidency of peace in Ukraine, Zelenskyy said he would do so if she reached a lasting end to the aegis of the security of the Alliance NATO military.
“If to realize peace, you really need me to abandon my message, I’m ready,” he said. “I can exchange it for NATO.”
His comment seemed to be intended for the recent suggestions by President Donald Trump and the Russian president Vladimir Putin that the elections should take place despite the Ukrainian legislation which prohibited them during martial law.
Ukraine fears Trump’s change of policy to Putin
Trump’s engagement with Russian officials and its recent agreement to reopen diplomatic links and economic cooperation with Moscow marked a dramatic subject in American politics that has shaken leaders in Ukraine and across Europe.
Zelenskyy expressed his fear that Trump who pushes a rapid resolution would lead to a loss of territory of Ukraine and to be left vulnerable to future Russian aggression. US officials said the Ukrainian chief would be involved if and when peace talks were really starting.
Trump, however, sparked alarm and anger in Ukraine this week when he suggested that kyiv had started war and that Zelenskyy was acting as a “dictator” by not holding the elections.
On Sunday, Russian Foreign Deputy Minister Sergei Ryabkov, Tass’s state news agency Moscow and Washington would pursue bilateral talks at the end of next week.
Ryabkov said the talks would take place between the heads of department of foreign ministries in the two countries, adding that “many contacts were underway between the Russian and American teams.
European leaders are preparing for discussions with Zelenskyy and Trump
The president of the European Union commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and other senior EU officials went to kyiv on Monday for interviews with the Ukrainian government while Europe rushes to design a response US policy changes in the Trump administration, and to maintain support for kyiv if Washington’s help ends.
The United Kingdom said it would announce new sanctions against Russia on Monday, describing them as the biggest package since the first days of war. Foreign Minister David Lammy said the measures would aim to erode the “Russian military machine and reduce income fueling destruction fires in Ukraine”.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron both had to visit Washington this week while Europe is trying to persuade Trump not to abandon Ukraine in pursuit of a peace agreement.
Russia is launching record drone strikes on the eve of the birthday
Earlier Sunday, Zelenskyy said that Russia launched 267 drones in Ukraine overnight, more than any other attack on the war.
The Air Force of Ukraine said that 138 drones had been slaughtered in 13 Ukrainian regions, with 119 other lost people on the way for their targets.
Three ballistic missiles have also been drawn, Air Force said. A person was killed in the city of Kryvyi Rih, according to the city’s military administration.
Reacting to the latest Russian attacks, Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine Minister for Foreign Affairs, said on social networks: “No one should trust Putin’s words. Look at his actions instead.
& Copy 2025 The Associated Press