USA Trump: Selenskyj in Washington on Friday
According to US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi will visit Washington on Friday. "I hear he wants to come on Friday, that's certainly okay with me if he wants to," Trump said at the White House.
26.02.2025, 07:41
SDA
Part of the talks is likely to be an agreement on US access to minerals stored in Ukraine, including rare earths. The deal has been under discussion for weeks. Trump stated that Zelenskyi wanted to sign the document with him personally.
However, Trump did not give any details about a possible agreement. The media had previously reported that Ukraine and the USA had agreed on a framework.
Trump previously said of Zelensky: "Dictator"
According to Washington, Zelensky had previously delayed the signing of the agreement, meaning that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had to return from Ukraine without having achieved anything. Trump then publicly berated the Ukrainian president, calling him a "dictator", among other things.
The exploitation of raw materials in Ukraine is considered strategically important and economically lucrative. Experts point out that Ukraine will also need rare earths and other raw materials for its own reconstruction. A large proportion of the resources are also located in the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia.
Trump: peacekeepers must be acceptable to all
Trump sees US access to natural resources as a quid pro quo for US arms supplies to Ukraine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is one of the heads of state and government who have at least openly criticized the US approach. At the beginning of February, he said in connection with Trump's statements that it would be "very selfish, very self-centered" to use Ukraine's resources to finance defence support.
Trump also emphasized that there must be peacekeepers in Ukraine that all sides can live with. "Something will be done that is acceptable to all," said Trump. The day before, he had stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin had no problem with a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine. Russia had not confirmed this. Trump emphasized that the European neighbors must feel responsible for the long-term support of Ukraine.
