A White House official criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for rejecting a U.S. proposal granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, calling the decision short-sighted.
White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes told the Associated Press that Zelenskyy is overlooking a significant opportunity presented by the Trump administration.
Hughes stated that a minerals agreement would enable the U.S. to recoup some of its substantial aid to Kyiv, while simultaneously boosting Ukraine’s economy. The White House believes strong economic ties with the U.S. are crucial for deterring future aggression and ensuring lasting peace, a viewpoint shared by both the U.S. and Russia, Hughes asserted.
Hughes didn’t confirm the proposal, reported by the AP as a key element of Zelenskyy’s Munich Security Conference discussions.
Current and former senior Ukrainian officials familiar with the talks informed the AP that the offer lacked specific security guarantees in exchange for access to rare earth minerals.
These officials, speaking anonymously, explained that the proposal framed the U.S. use of Ukraine’s minerals as compensation for past and future aid. Zelenskyy, however, rejected the agreement, telling the AP it didn’t adequately protect Ukraine’s interests.
“I didn’t let the ministers sign a relevant agreement because in my view it is not ready to protect us, our interest,” Zelenskyy told the AP on Saturday in Munich.
Ukraine possesses substantial reserves of critical minerals vital to aerospace, defense, and nuclear industries. The Trump administration has expressed interest in accessing these minerals to reduce dependence on foreign sources.
Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of linking security guarantees to any investment to deter future aggression.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly presented the document to Ukrainian officials on Wednesday during a visit to Kyiv.
“It’s a colonial agreement and Zelenskyy cannot sign it,” the former Ukrainian senior official told the AP.
U.S. National Security Advisor refuted claims that European allies were being excluded from Ukraine war negotiations, with the Trump administration reportedly initiating talks with Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia. French President Emmanuel Macron announced an emergency meeting of European powers in Paris to discuss the conflict.
Walz stated on “Sunday” that Vance, Bessent, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed the importance of a U.S.-Ukraine partnership and joint investment with the American people during talks with Zelenskyy.
“The American people deserve to be recouped, deserve to have some type of payback for the billions they have invested in this war,” Waltz said. “I can’t think of anything that would make the American people more comfortable with future investments than if we were able to be in a partnership and have the American people made whole. And I’ll point out that much of the is actually in the form of a loan. That is repaid. It’s repaid with interest on Russian assets. So President Trump is rethinking the entire dynamic here. That has some people uncomfortable, but I think Zelenskyy would be very wise to enter into this agreement with the United States. There’s no better way to secure them going forward, and further, there was a question of whether Putin would come to the table. He has now done so under President Trump’s leadership, and we’re going to continue those talks in the coming weeks at President Trump’s direction.”
U.S. officials in Munich focused on the practicalities of mineral exploration and potential partnerships with Ukraine, according to a senior official. The potential value of the Ukrainian deposits remains unassessed due to ongoing exploration and proximity to the front lines. The U.S. proposal seemingly didn’t account for security concerns during the ongoing war.
Zelenskyy and Vance didn’t discuss the U.S. document details during their Friday meeting, according to the senior official.
That meeting was described as “very good” and “substantive,” with Vance emphasizing Trump’s commitment to a lasting peace. Zelenskyy stressed Ukraine’s need for a strong position before negotiations, advocating for U.S. negotiators to visit Ukraine and for the inclusion of the U.S., Ukraine, and Europe in talks with Russia.
Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy, effectively excluded Europeans from Ukraine-Russia talks despite Zelenskyy’s request.
“You can have the Ukrainians, the Russians, and clearly the Americans at the table talking,” Kellogg said at a Munich conference event. When pressed about European exclusion, he responded: “I’m a school of realism. I think that’s not going to happen.”
Ukraine is preparing a counterproposal for the U.S. in the near future, according to the official.
“I think it’s important that the vice president understood me that if we want to sign something, we have to understand that it will work,” Zelenskyy told the AP.
This means, he explained, “it will bring money and security.”