A senior White House official has criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for not signing a proposed agreement to grant the United States access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals. The White House National Security Council spokesman emphasized the opportunity presented by the Trump administration for Ukraine to benefit economically and strengthen ties with the U.S. The proposal, reportedly discussed during Zelenskyy's meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, aimed to leverage Ukraine's mineral resources as compensation for past and future American aid.
Zelenskyy expressed concerns about the agreement's focus on U.S. interests and the lack of specific security guarantees. The Trump administration's interest in Ukraine's critical minerals stems from reducing dependence on China and enhancing national security. Zelenskyy stressed the importance of security guarantees and investments to deter potential Russian aggression.
