How to attract Volodymyr Zelenskyy Donald Trump with Ukraine minerals

It was the idea that Volodymyr Zelenskyy believed that it would interest Donald Trump’s support for Ukraine’s support: an offer to the United States to reach his country’s abundant resources.

When Ukraine president developed the plan in Trump Tower to Trump, then the Republican candidate, the first signs were promising. Although Zelenskyy refused a few days ago “The greatest seller in history” “In order to persuade the United States to finance his defense of Ukraine, Trump responded” with interest, “Trump said.

They only imagined the extent of Trump’s interest without mercy in Ukraine mineral Russia’s invasion.

The penetration finally came when Trump and Zellinski met again, seven months later, this time in the splendor of the Vatican. Ukraine leader said he told the US President there he was ready to develop the deal. He said on Thursday: “In fact, we now have the first result of the Vatican meeting, which makes it really historical,” he said on Thursday.

But the hatred that they had to overcome was great: months of risky negotiations, the exchange of explosive oval offices, and endless moments near the haven when the talks have almost collapsed-until the last few hours.

The deal, which was signed on Wednesday by US Treasury Secretary Scott Beesen and First Deputy Foreign Minister Yulia Svedenko in Washington, proves the participation of the United States in developing natural resources in Kiev. But its potential importance is much greater.

For Ukraine, the agreement provides reassurance amid deep concern that Trump could abandon Ukraine to follow a wider ceasefire deal with Russia. For Trump, it represents a step towards his promise to recover some billions that Washington spent in support of Ukraine since Russia’s full invasion of 2022.

American companies will get a preferential arrival in major Ukrainian projects and resources, including aluminum, lithium, Titanium, graphite, oil and natural gas. US officials also said that he would strengthen relations with Kyiv after a few loud months.

“This partnership will be essential to the Trump’s peace process, because it sends a strong message to Russia that the United States has the skin in the game … and is committed to the success of Ukraine in the long run,” said one of the senior US Treasury officials.

Kiev officials and many analysts believe that this step as part of Ukraine’s broader effort to maintain strategic relations with Washington, as Trump pushes the end of the conflict.

This account of the turbulent path depends on a deal on reports from within the Ukrainian presidential administration, interviews with more than ten Ukrainian officials who participated directly, the figures of the United States, Western diplomats who have seen the talks, and legal experts who advise KYIV.

The assets of the agreement followed to early last summer, when Zelinski commissioned his advisers to develop a strategy to secure the long -term American support momentum in the war away from Russia.

The stadium included the “Victory Plan” from five points of security proposals with strategic economic partnerships. One of Zelinski’s close officials said it was “an attempt to change the course of war and bring Russia to the table … Zelenskyy really believes.”

The fourth point called for the opening of the natural resources of Western investment, a partially inspired by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. On the other hand, Kiev was supposed to be more, better and more American military support to defend himself, if the lost lands were not restored.

At the time, President Joe Biden showed little enthusiasm to provide huge amounts of additional western weapons, for fear that such an increase could exhaust US stocks or lead to a Russian escalation. However, the White House team showed interest in a common economic deal.

After Zelenskyy sold Trump’s idea in Trump Tower, the main deals maker was more interesting to the economic angle and the idea of ​​rare land securing in exchange for continuing American aid.

Looking at his interest, opinion polls that showed that Trump was in the American presidential race, the Zelenskyy team chose to stop exploring the metal deal with the Biden government, and instead decided to increase the potential financial lever with any Trump administration.

The newly opened President Trump took two weeks to link us to publicly support the United States to reach the mineral wealth in Ukraine, noting the number of $ 500 billion as compensation due to previous US aid – the multiplier of actual support provided. “They have Great rare land. And I want rare land security.

The senior Ukrainian officials were concerned about the volume of demand – and even more concerned about the absence of any mention of American military support in the future. However, Kyiv continued talks, hoping to extract better conditions and stay in Trump’s good blessing.

A few days later, Pesin went out of a night train in Kiev with a proposal project that gives the ownership of the United States by 50 percent of the rare land rights in Ukraine and critical minerals – without commitment to future military or financial assistance.

Zelenskyy had an hour -old and opinion notice before meeting with BESSENT only thanks to the American ambassador to Kyiv, Bridget Brink, who walked through the capital with a copy.

I looked at his contents, which were not translated into his mother tongue, and Bessint warned to sign him before returning to Washington.

But Zelinski is a politician who does not take well to warn. During their meeting, the voices of Zelenskyy and bessent can be heard through the heavy gilded doors. “He was very angry,” said a Ukrainian official who stood close to the president.

When they appeared, Zelinski said he would not sign at that time. “Not in our interest today. . . It is not in the interest of Ukraine sovereignandHe said. His main occupy was the complete lack of security guarantees.

European and Ukrainian officials were considering whether Zelinski had made a strategic mistake by not being more clear about his goals from the beginning. A senior European official said: “I have been seduced by Trump, clearly,” said a senior European official. “But the lack of details means that Trump can maintain its price mainly.”

A senior Ukrainian official said that Zelinski should have been “clear” about the link “of the future guarantee of (American) security assistance.”

After visiting Bessent, Washington called the pressure. “Without supporting the United States and the American people, the position of Ukraine will be fraught with risks at best,” the Treasury Secretary wrote in feet For example .

The conversations eventually resumed. Ukrainian officials were ready to sign the revised conditions after the United States dropped the demands of the potential payment day of $ 500 billion. They even pressed after Trump said that the United States would not give Ukrainian security guarantees. “We will make Europe do it,” Trump said.

Zelenskyy went to Washington to close the agreement, with a signing party planning. Trump shook Zelinsky’s hand at the entrance to the western wing of the White House, and praised him for his military style.

Then they moved to the oval office, Where the meeting started well, With Zelenskyy’s show with OLKSANDR USK belt in front of correspondents and cameras.

But within a few minutes, the conversation moved to the screaming match, with Trump’s accusation of “gambling with World War III”.

Trump scolded him: “You don’t have cards.”

“I do not play paper,” Zelenskyy answered.

With the cancellation of the signing ceremony, Zelinski was heterogeneous from the White House. Instead, a luxury lunch planned for employees in Trump was provided.

By late March, the Trump administration arrested US military aid and expanded its demands. “They want to play dirty now,” said one of the Ukrainian officials.

Then a new draft Washington and Kiev proposed the establishment of an supervisory council to control oil, gas and mineral revenues – with the United States to space veto points on the decisions. The draft also said that American support for Ukraine because the invasion of Russia will be considered “partnership contributions.” Future military aid has not been mentioned.

Ukrainian officials likened the show to “blackmail” and “blackmail”.

Trump’s pressure request. In early April, he was accused of trying to try to retract the deal and warned that he would face “major problems.”

In turn, Zelenskyy ordered his team to work with the United States. In a sign of the stress of the situation, the Ukrainian leader ordered his local security service Investigation of leaksFrom the latest American proposal.

Despite the setbacks, negotiators pressed. The default signature of the intention of the intention on April 18 has laid the foundation for renewable conversations.

then Trump and Zellinski met in Rome. “I was telling (Zelenskyy) that it is very good if we can prevent a deal and sign it, because Russia is much greater and much stronger,” Trump told NewSnation of the Vatican.

By Monday, officials said they had reached a compromise: Washington has dropped its request for factors in previous aid only as part of the United States’ contribution.

However, since the Svydenko plane was in Air Found to Washington to sign the framework agreement on Wednesday, US officials insisted on signing an additional document – the full fund and the technical attaché – and accused KYIV of trying to reopen negotiations.

The Bessent team said that the Ukrainians should be “ready to sign all agreements, or return to the homeland.”

Ukraine, referring to legal procedures, especially the ratification of the Fund’s Convention by Parliament, and initially refused to do so. But they said they would find a way.

Negotiations extended to the evening. Ukraine Prime Minister Dennis Shamial held a meeting in the cabinet in Kiev to authorize Sfiridinco to move forward without the approval of Parliament. Soon after, the deal has been completed.

The photos were distributed from officials carrying the documents, describing the deal with the code of their “cooperation”. Svydenko posted a smiling personal photo in front of the US Treasury.

The deal still requires ratification by the Parliament of Ukraine – and work to implement. Whether the agreement may depend not only on the conditions that are still completed, but on the duration of Zelenskyy and Trump to manage their reserved relationship.

“We did not choose between good and bad – we used to choose between bad and worse,” said Enina Sofson, the opposition deputy.

“What we got,” is better than the initial offer. “