Trump: I Expect Zelensky to Sign the Mineral Resources Agreement Soon

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, announced on Friday that he expects Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, to soon sign an agreement with the United States regarding mineral resources; an agreement that is part of efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Trump, speaking at the White House in response to a question about this agreement, said, "We hope to sign this agreement in a relatively short time." He also criticized Zelensky but refrained from making negative comments about Vladimir Putin. He added, "I have had very good discussions with Putin, but my discussions with Ukraine have not been so good." Trump also stated, "They have no trump cards, but they play hard." Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, also expressed hope on Friday that negotiations with Washington regarding access to Ukraine's strategic mineral resources would reach a fair conclusion. In his nighttime video message, Zelensky said, "This agreement could add value to our relationship. The important thing is that its details are properly examined to be operational. I hope a fair outcome is achieved." He did not specify which agreement is under consideration. Ukraine has valuable reserves of strategic minerals that the U.S. is interested in, including uranium, lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements, and other materials used in batteries, technology, and aerospace industries. Meanwhile, White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said on Friday at the "Conservative Political Action Conference" in the suburbs of Washington, "The main issue is whether President Zelensky will sign this agreement, and you will see that soon." The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine began three years ago with a comprehensive invasion by Moscow. In a separate news item, the United States presented a draft resolution to the United Nations on Friday, marking the third anniversary of Russia's attack on Ukraine. This draft, which Reuters has seen, expresses regret over the human toll in the "Russia-Ukraine conflict" and calls for a swift end to this war.