President Trump is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House today to formalize a preliminary agreement that would grant the United States access to Ukraine’s essential raw materials in exchange for potential future assistance.
During a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House on Thursday, President Trump addressed questions. This marks Starmer’s inaugural visit to the White House since Trump’s return to office.
This meeting represents the first direct encounter between Zelenskyy and Trump since the latter’s inauguration, occurring shortly after Trump referred to Zelenskyy as a “dictator” and echoed Kremlin narratives, including the assertion that Ukraine instigated the conflict with Russia.
“The importance of this meeting lies in the fact that it is taking place at all,” remarks Serhii Fursa, deputy director of the Ukrainian investment firm Dragon Capital, who has been closely monitoring the minerals agreement. “I do not believe President Zelenskyy will find this trip personally enjoyable; it is a necessity for him.”
The proposed agreement does not seem to provide any explicit security assurances, although Zelenskyy intends to advocate for their inclusion in a final accord, as Ukraine requires protection from Russian aggression. Instead, the agreement broadly outlines the establishment of a Reconstruction Investment Fund, which would be jointly managed by both nations. This fund is designed to collect and reinvest revenues generated from Ukraine’s natural resources, including oil and gas deposits, as well as rare earth metals and critical minerals utilized in advanced technology.