Ukraine Remains Open To US Minerals Agreement Despite Tense Oval Office Talks; Zelenskyy Says, 'Will Sign When Parties Are Ready'

Ukraine has signaled its readiness to finalise a minerals agreement with the United States (US), as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasised commitment to the deal. Speaking to the United Kingdom (UK) media on Sunday (2 March), Zelenskyy said Ukraine's commitment remains contingent on mutual readiness from both parties, as reported by The Hindu.

"The agreement that's on the table will be signed if the parties are ready," Zelenskyy stated in a late-night briefing following a high-level summit in London, and quoted by The Hindu.

The proposed pact, aimed at bolstering Ukraine's post-war economic recovery, suffered a setback after a contentious meeting with US President Donald Trump on 28 February.

Zelenskyy had traveled to Washington for a formal White House visit with the intention of signing a joint US-Ukrainian deal focused on the utilisation of Ukraine’s substantial mineral resources. 

However, discussions in the Oval Office took an unexpected turn, with Trump admonishing Zelenskyy, urging him to be more "thankful" for US support in the ongoing conflict with Russia.

“You're either going to make a deal or we're out,” Trump asserted. “And if we're out, you'll fight it out, and I don't think it's going to be pretty.” 

Despite Trump's earlier remarks describing the proposed agreement as "very fair," the meeting concluded without a signed deal. Following the tense exchange, Zelenskyy departed the White House without participating in a scheduled joint press conference, and the White House later confirmed that the agreement remained unsigned.

Ukraine’s allies have since demonstrated strong backing for Zelenskyy. At a summit in London, hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European leaders pledged increased security spending and discussed forming a coalition for any potential truce. French President Emmanuel Macron, upon returning from the summit, revealed in an interview that France and Britain were preparing to propose a temporary, one-month truce with Russia.