Trump and Zelenskyy to meet at White House on Friday, will sign crucial deal

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit the White House on Friday to sign a critical minerals agreement. Trump made the announcement during his first cabinet meeting of the day, signaling significant economic cooperation between the U.S. and Ukraine. This agreement is expected to foster stronger ties and mutual benefits in the economic sphere.

Previously, Zelenskyy revealed that the framework for an economic agreement with the United States was ready, but he did not provide details on U.S. security guarantees, which Kyiv considers essential for resisting Russian invasion. Zelenskyy stated at a press conference in Kyiv that the final agreement might depend on the talks to be held in Washington on Friday. The outcome of these talks will be crucial for determining the future of the agreement.

Zelenskyy emphasized that the framework agreement reached by both parties is a preliminary step towards a comprehensive agreement, which still requires approval from the Ukrainian parliament. Ukraine first needs to clarify the U.S. position on its continued military support. He expressed his anticipation for extensive dialogue with Trump during his visit to Washington, discussing a broader strategic vision and the future direction of Ukraine. These discussions are expected to shape the long-term relationship between the two countries.

Since returning to office last month, Trump has made it clear to Ukraine that he expects a return for the tens of billions of dollars in aid the U.S. is providing to fend off a full-scale invasion by Russian forces. The White House has been putting immense pressure on Kyiv to allow the U.S. access to Ukraine's rich mineral resources, which are widely used in aerospace, defense, and nuclear industries. This access is seen as a crucial component of the ongoing support.

According to the Associated Press, the latest version of the draft agreement states that the U.S. "supports Ukraine's efforts to obtain the security assurances it needs to establish lasting peace" but does not explicitly commit the U.S. to providing those assurances. The agreement also mentions that "participants will seek to identify any necessary measures to protect…joint investments as defined in the agreement." A White House official reiterated on Wednesday that accepting the agreement was a prerequisite for Trump's invitation to Zelenskyy to meet on Friday. The official discussed the invitation on condition of anonymity. This condition highlights the sensitivity surrounding the agreement.

Zelenskyy stated, "This agreement could be a huge success, or it could quietly disappear. I believe success depends on our conversation with President Trump." He emphasized, "I want to coordinate with the United States." In addition, Zelenskyy said he hopes to discuss with Trump whether the U.S. plans to halt military aid, and if so, whether Ukraine can directly purchase weapons from the U.S. He also wants to know if Ukraine can use frozen Russian assets to buy weapons and make investments, and whether Washington plans to lift sanctions on Russia. These are critical issues for Ukraine's defense and economic stability.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that the preliminary economic agreement also stipulates the terms and conditions for a fund to rebuild Ukraine. Furthermore, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that Russian and U.S. дипломаты will meet in Istanbul on Thursday to discuss the operations of their respective embassies in Moscow and Washington. This meeting indicates ongoing communication between Russia and the U.S. despite the tensions.