Name: Zelenskyy Expected in Washington Friday to Sign US–Ukraine Minerals Deal
Uploaded: 2025-02-26T16:13:55.000Z
Description: President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected in Washington on Friday to sign a major U.S.-Ukraine economic deal focused on rare earths and critical minerals.

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

NTD Plus

News

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

Trump Announces National Garden of American Heroes Plans

Top Officer: Navy Funding Could Lapse by July

UK Health Secretary Quits Starmer’s Cabinet

Paul Greaney is an NTD news anchor and producer. Since joining the company in 2018, he has anchored the station’s flagship Evening News broadcast, launched the NTD Business show, and produced documentary reports on pointed issues. 

The highlight of Paul’s time in the field was his coverage of the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Paul Greaney

Chinese Leader Hates It When ‘Human Rights’ Is Raised: Col. Grant Newsham on Trump’s China Visit

Man Convicted of $1 Billion Medicare Fraud in Florida

Retail Sales Rose for 3rd Straight Month in April

Former Spirit Airlines Workers Sue for Pay, Benefits

Bessent: China Needs Hormuz Strait Open More Than US

Victoria Friedman is a UK-based reporter covering a wide range of national stories.

Victoria Friedman

World News

Middle East

Israel–Hamas War

Netanyahu Considers Suing New York Times Over Column Alleging Rape of Palestinian Prisoners

Russia Unleashes Heaviest Wartime Drone Assault on Ukraine

Stefania Cox is an NTD News anchor and national correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Stefania anchors "NTD Newsroom," and co-anchors "NTD News Today" weekdays at 10:00 am ET.

Stefania Cox

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 15)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 14)

Kevin Hogan is an NTD News data reporter and national correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Kevin covers breaking news, as well as U.S. and global current events. He conveys the news through data visualizations and investigates pressing issues.

Kevin Hogan

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 13)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 12)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 11)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 8)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 7)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 6)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 5)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 4)

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

China Sends Warships to Pacific Drill as Tensions With Japan Rise

Reuters is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages.

Reuters

We present news that is truthful and based on facts, outside of the political fog. Instead of focusing on the negative things happening around us, our mission is to give our viewers a good morning with empathetic and uplifting stories. Our aim is to provide an antidote to negativity by shining a light on the best side of people. We speak to inspiring people who positively impact communities, pursue topics that represent our common human values, and will never miss an opportunity to bring you heartwarming stories.

NTD Good Morning

2 US Embassy Personnel Assigned to Cartel Case Killed in Car Accident

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

US News

Gunman Kills 8 Children, Including 7 of His Own, in Louisiana Mass Shooting

Flora Hua is a reporter based at NTD's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers China news, U.S.-China relations, and human rights issues. Flora primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus."  

Flora Hua

Trump: Seized Iranian Ship May Have ‘A Gift From China’

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Aldgra Fredly is a freelance writer covering U.S. and Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.

Aldgra Fredly

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized in Critical Condition: Spokesman

Wildfires Across Georgia and Florida Have Destroyed Nearly 50 Homes and Are Forcing Evacuations

US Warns of China Hacks via Routers, Smart Devices

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

2 Americans Among Suspected Communist Rebels Killed in Clashes With Troops, Philippine Officials Say

Ryan Morgan is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on military and foreign affairs. He was previously a news writer for NTD. 


Ryan Morgan

Mari Otsu is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. 

Mari Otsu

Iran

3 US Warships Fend Off Iranian Attacks, Trump Says Ceasefire Still Holds

Health News

3 Dead in Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship in Atlantic Ocean: WHO

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected in Washington on Friday to sign a major U.S.-Ukraine economic deal focused on rare earths and critical minerals.

“I hear that he’s coming on Friday,” Trump <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1894517160002605504">told</a> reporters in the Oval Office on Feb. 25 when asked whether all outstanding issues in the agreement had been resolved and if Zelenskyy was traveling to Washington to finalize the deal.

“The American taxpayer now is going to get their money back—plus,” he added.

The Epoch Times could not immediately confirm whether the two leaders were scheduled to meet for a signing ceremony. When asked, the White House referred to the president's earlier remarks in the Oval Office.

However, multiple media outlets reported earlier Tuesday that Kyiv had agreed to the deal, citing senior Ukrainian officials speaking anonymously.

Zelenskyy first proposed an economic partnership with key strategic allies in October as part of his "victory plan," aiming to jointly develop Ukraine’s vast mineral resources. He later <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/ukraine-ready-to-trade-rare-earths-for-military-aid-zelenskyy-says-ahead-of-trump-meeting-5806277">confirmed</a> he wanted to formalize such a deal with the United States but insisted it must include explicit security guarantees.

Zelenskyy, in a speech in Kyiv on Monday, expressed hope that the agreement would be signed, emphasizing that continued U.S. support is critical to deterring Russian aggression.

Earlier this month, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent presented Zelenskyy with a framework for a deal during a visit to Kyiv. Zelenskyy initially rejected the proposal, arguing that without security guarantees, it failed to address Ukraine’s long-term sovereignty and stability.

Bessent <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/putin-says-russia-has-no-objections-to-us-ukraine-minerals-deal-5815572">downplayed</a> those concerns in a Fox News interview on Feb. 23, saying that while the deal does not contain a formal military provision, it effectively provides an implicit security guarantee. He argued that U.S. investment in Ukraine’s economic future would give Washington a vested interest in preventing foreign threats to its stability.

"I call it an economic security guarantee,” Bessent said.

While it remains unclear what led Zelenskyy to accept the deal, several of Kyiv’s key European allies—particularly Poland and the UK—publicly urged him to do so. They argued that securing American economic engagement would reinforce Washington’s commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty. Another possible factor was Russian President Vladimir Putin <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/putin-says-russia-has-no-objections-to-us-ukraine-minerals-deal-5815572">dangling</a> a deal of his own that would supply the United States with key minerals, including rare earth metals that are critical for many modern technologies.

Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister leading the negotiations, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/1890d104-1395-4393-a71d-d299aed448e6">told</a> the Financial Times on Tuesday that the deal goes beyond minerals and is "part of a bigger picture" that will deepen Ukraine's ties with the United States.

According to a Feb. 24 draft of the agreement seen by the Financial Times, the deal establishes a jointly owned fund where Ukraine will contribute 50 percent of future proceeds from state-owned mineral resources, including oil and gas, to be reinvested in domestic projects. Crucially, the final version does not contain the U.S. security guarantees that Kyiv initially sought, leaving key details—such as the American stake in the fund and joint ownership terms—to be determined in follow-up agreements.

In a recent Financial Times op-ed, Bessent <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/bessent-us-ukraine-minerals-deal-will-transform-war-torn-nation-protect-us-taxpayers-5814637">framed</a> the deal as a way to attract private investment and align the long-term interests of both nations, fostering economic growth and stability in Ukraine. He emphasized that the United States would not take ownership of any physical assets but that both sides would benefit from the cooperation.

“President Trump’s proposed partnership aligns the interests of the American people with those of the people of Ukraine,” Bessent wrote. “The president recognizes that national security is built alongside economic security, and the more successful and secure postwar Ukraine is, the more both the Ukrainian people and the people of the U.S. will benefit.”

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/trump-says-zelenskyy-likely-coming-to-washington-to-sign-us-ukraine-economic-deal-5816390">The Epoch Times</a></em>

Latest

Politics

04_Top Stories

International

Europe

Latest Clips

Management

Russia–Ukraine War

Tom Ozimek is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times. He has a broad background in journalism, deposit insurance, marketing and communications, and adult education.

Tom Ozimek

02_Second Lead

Executive Branch

Donald Trump

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.