Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed on Wednesday that a U.S. proposal regarding a critical minerals agreement was inequitable, as it lacked security assurances. He emphasized that he did not wish for Ukraine to serve as a raw materials hub.
Last week, Kyiv submitted a revised version of the agreement to Washington, aiming to attract U.S. investment in its extensive critical mineral resources to garner American support, particularly in light of concerns regarding an earlier proposal from the U.S.
“I indicated that ‘this document is not finalized, and we will not endorse it. Please continue refining it,'” Zelenskiy stated to certain Turkish media outlets following discussions in Ankara on Tuesday.
“I am always receptive to your investments in our nation and its natural resources… However, if we are to offer something, we must also receive something in return,” he remarked, as reported by the state-owned Anadolu news agency.
“We do not wish to become a raw materials center for any continent.”
Zelenskiy outlined the framework of the agreement in a recent interview with Reuters. The minerals involved would encompass rare earth elements, along with titanium, uranium, and lithium, among others.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has yet to confirm the continuation of essential military aid to Ukraine, has expressed a desire for $500 billion in rare earth minerals from Kyiv, emphasizing that support from Washington must be “secured.”
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Zelenskiy’s trip to Ankara coincided with discussions between U.S. and Russian officials in Riyadh, which did not include Ukrainian representatives, regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Zelenskiy expressed confidence in Ukraine’s support from Washington but indicated a desire for increased backing from Trump.
“We observe that (the U.S.) has alleviated Putin’s political isolation, but that is their choice. However, when you present ‘these are our plans to end the war,’ it prompts questions for us. Where do we stand? What is our position at the negotiating table? This conflict is occurring within Ukraine,” he stated.
“There must be individuals at the negotiating table capable of deterring (Russian President Vladimir) Putin if he chooses to resume hostilities. They need to provide us with tangible security guarantees, not just assurances. We are prepared for such discussions,” he was reported as saying.
