Report: U.S. Officials Express Disappointment as Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Allegedly Rejects Minerals Deal, Sparks Diplomatic Friction
Washington D.C. – Tensions appear to be escalating between the United States and Ukraine as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent publicly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for reportedly rejecting a proposed minerals deal that would have exchanged billions of dollars in U.S. aid for access to Ukraine’s rare earth and other natural resources.
Bessent made his remarks during an interview Friday with Laura Ingraham, host of Fox News’ "The Ingraham Angle," asserting that Zelenskyy had twice refused to sign the agreement. According to Bessent, the Ukrainian President personally conveyed his decision during a meeting in Kyiv, stating that he would not agree to the mineral exchange. Bessent further claimed that Zelenskyy had also declined to finalize the deal with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The public airing of this disagreement comes amidst heightened scrutiny of U.S. aid to Ukraine, particularly as some Republican lawmakers have voiced concerns about the long-term financial commitment and the strategic alignment of interests between the two nations.
Adding fuel to the fire, a separate incident involving Zelenskyy and former President Donald Trump, along with Vice President Vance, occurred on Friday, further complicating the diplomatic landscape. According to reports, Trump and Vance publicly admonished Zelenskyy in front of reporters and cameras, leading to a tense exchange and the cancellation of a planned meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump.
"It was supposed to be a great day and this is one of the biggest own goals in diplomatic history," Bessent remarked, using a soccer term to describe Zelenskyy’s actions as detrimental to his own country’s interests. "Today, I was shocked that he would behave like this on camera in front of the world."
The cancelled meeting and the public criticism suggest a significant breakdown in communication and trust between key figures in the U.S. government and the Ukrainian President, potentially impacting future negotiations and cooperation.
Senator Eric Schmitt, Republican of Missouri, also weighed in on the situation via social media platform X, stating, "Zelenskyy could have signed the deal five days earlier but wanted to come to the White House. He’d been difficult for two weeks. Yet he wanted the White House meeting. Trump was upbeat about it even just the day before publicly and privately the day of. Although he could have reset the whole thing, Zelenskyy was antagonistic and over the top."
Schmitt concluded his post by saying, "He had a one foot putt but was more interested in litigating issues that should be discussed behind closed doors (and have been) in public." The senator’s comments suggest that Zelenskyy may have prioritized public posturing over securing a potentially beneficial agreement for his country.
Trump also addressed the matter on his Truth Social account, writing that Zelenskyy was "not ready for Peace."
"We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today," Trump wrote. "Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure."
Zelenskyy, for his part, acknowledged the visit in a post on X, thanking the U.S. for its support.
"Thank you, America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit," Zelenskyy posted. "Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that."
However, Zelenskyy’s conciliatory remarks on social media stand in stark contrast to the reported behind-the-scenes disagreements and the public criticism he has faced from U.S. officials.
The potential minerals deal at the heart of the dispute would have granted U.S. companies access to Ukraine’s reserves of rare earth elements and other valuable resources, in exchange for substantial financial aid. Proponents of the deal argued that it would have benefited both countries, providing Ukraine with much-needed economic assistance and bolstering the U.S.’s supply of critical minerals essential for various industries, including technology and defense.
However, critics of the deal have raised concerns about the potential exploitation of Ukraine’s natural resources and the long-term environmental impact of mining activities. Some Ukrainian officials may have also been hesitant to cede control over their country’s resources to foreign entities, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict with Russia.
The breakdown in relations between the U.S. and Ukraine comes at a critical juncture in the war, as Ukraine continues to rely heavily on Western support to defend itself against Russian aggression. Any disruption in the flow of aid could have serious consequences for Ukraine’s ability to withstand the ongoing Russian offensive.
It remains unclear what the long-term implications of this diplomatic spat will be. However, the public airing of grievances and the cancellation of meetings suggest that significant efforts will be needed to repair the relationship between the two countries and ensure continued cooperation in the face of ongoing challenges. The incident also highlights the complexities of international relations and the potential for misunderstandings and disagreements to arise even between close allies. Further developments are expected as both sides attempt to manage the fallout from this recent series of events.
