US President Donald Trump said on 17 April that a minerals agreement with Ukraine will be signed next week, marking a potential breakthrough in negotiations between the two countries.
“We have a mineral deal that I believe will be signed soon, next Thursday,” Trump told reporters at the White House on 17 April.
Earlier the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a briefing in Kyiv that a memorandum related to the mineral deal could be signed as early as 17 April.
According to Zelenskyy, the American side proposed a few days ago that Ukraine return to signing a memorandum of intent regarding the mineral deal.
“A memorandum of intent, not the deal itself, could be signed online today. Our side told the American side ‘okay.’ I understand that the vice prime minister is working with the American side on the text,” Zelenskyy said, referring to Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
During his comments on 17 April, Trump also said that he does not hold Zelenskyy responsible for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“I don’t think Zelenskyy is responsible, but I’m not thrilled that this war started. I don’t blame him, but I wouldn’t say he’s done a great job. I’m not a big fan of his,” Trump said at the White House while with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Previously, the White House leader had suggested Zelenskyy bore some blame for the war.
The arrangement is considered by the Trump’s administartion as a means to recoup the extensive military and financial aid provided to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Ukraine and the United States were expected to sign a mineral agreement in late February when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Washington. The signing ceremony, however, did not take place due to a disagreement between Zelenskyy and Donald Trump at the White House.
President Trump sought to conclude a mineral resources agreement with Ukraine as part of efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. Trump also viewed this agreement as a way to recover billions of dollars spent on military aid to Kyiv, despite this assistance not being provided as a loan.
Bloomberg reported on 16 Aprl that Washington appeared to have softened its demands on Ukraine regarding payment for assistance. The publication noted that the Trump administration had reduced its estimate of the aid value from approximately $300 billion to around $100 billion.
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