Trump has asked Ukraine to give access to its rare earth minerals to make up for the billions of dollars in military aid it received under Joe Biden.
On February 25, a senior Ukrainian official said late that Kiev had agreed on the terms of the deal, under which the United States would jointly develop Ukraine's mineral resources, and that Zelensky could sign it in on February 28 in Washington.

"I would very much like to make that visit," Zelensky said.

"This is just a start, a framework, it could be a great success. Success will depend on our conversation with President Trump," he added.
Zelensky said the proceeds of the resource deal would be deposited into a fund to be jointly owned by Ukraine and the United States, and that Kiev would not be "indebted" to the aid provided under the Biden administration.

"That would be unfair to us," Zelensky said.

He also said he would ask Trump whether Washington would stop the aid altogether and, if so, whether Ukraine could still buy weapons from the United States.

Ukraine hopes the deal will improve relations with the Trump administration, which have deteriorated in the war of words between Trump and Zelensky.
Kiev also wants security guarantees, although the current draft of the deal does not make any specific security commitments to the United States, a senior Ukrainian official said. | BGNES