'Russia-Ukraine War Can End Within Weeks': Trump Claims As He Invites Zelenskyy To Sign Critical Minerals Deal With US

The United States (US) President Donald Trump has invited his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet in Washington for the signing of a critical minerals agreement after the US opposed Ukraine's resolution at the United Nations (UN).

NDTV reported that Trump proposed that the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine could potentially conclude "within weeks" and claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had "no problem" with European peacekeeping troops in his country as Kermelin does not want "more war."

"I will be meeting with President Zelenskyy. In fact, he may come in this week or next week to sign the agreement," Trump told reporters from the Oval Office on Monday (24 February).

During a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, President Trump made remarks just days after suggesting that Zelenskyy's involvement in the negotiations to end the war in Ukraine wasn't necessary.

Following US-Russia discussions in Saudi Arabia last week, from which Kyiv was notably absent, Trump subsequently labeled the Ukrainian leader as a "dictator".

Trump indicated that negotiations with Ukraine regarding access to the nation's crucial minerals are nearing a conclusion, stating, "They're very close to a final deal."

"It'll be a deal with rare earths and various other things, and he would like to come, as I understand it, here to sign it, and that would be great with me," he was quoted as saying by NDTV.

Zelenskyy initiated the proposition to share Ukraine's natural resources with the US in exchange for future security assurances. Nonetheless, the preliminary agreement put forth by the Americans the previous week allegedly demanded half of the income from Ukraine's natural resources without promising any security pledges in return.

The Ukrainian President declined to sign a preliminary agreement due to the absence of security assurances, prompting ongoing discussions between American and Ukrainian diplomats to reach a compromise.

On Putin's response to the presence of European peacemaking troops as part of a final agreement, Trump said, "Yeah, he will accept that. I've asked him that question. Because he's not, look, if we do this deal, he's not looking for more war. He doesn't mind but I've specifically asked him that question. He has no problem with it."

"I think we could end it (Russia-Ukraine War) within weeks if we're smart," he was quoted as saying by NDTV.