Zelenskyy folds, offers to sign mineral deal with U.S. 'any time'

By Thérèse Boudreaux
The Center Square 

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has abruptly pivoted from his defensive stance toward President Donald Trump after a public spat over peace negotiations with Russia, agreeing Tuesday to sign a deal with the U.S. “any time and in any convenient format.”

Tensions had flared in the Oval Office Friday when the two presidents, joined by Vice President J.D. Vance, held a publicized meeting meant to solidify a mineral rights deal with the U.S. as the first step toward peace talks with Russia.

The televised meeting quickly went off track when Zelenskyy appeared to try negotiating for more U.S. aid, leading Vance to call him “disrespectful” and Trump telling Zelensky to come back when he is “ready for peace.”

Democrats blasted Trump for seemingly souring the nation’s relationship with Ukraine and jeopardizing the minerals deal, especially when he proceeded to suspend all U.S. military aid to Ukraine on Monday.

But on Tuesday, Zelensky posted what essentially amounted to an apology on X, calling the White House meeting “regrettable” and declaring he and his team “stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.”

He also thanked America for how much help it has sent to Ukraine, adding that his country is “grateful” for “the moment when things changed when President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins” during Trump’s first term in office.

The U.S. has sent the most aid out of any country to Ukraine since the war began on Feb. 24, 2022, with the Government Accountability Office projecting roughly $175 billion in American taxpayer dollars have been sent in the form of cash, aid supplies, and military equipment.