AssetID: 54557737
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Zelensky and Trump to Finalize Minerals Deal in Washington Amid Tensions
Caption: Zelensky and Trump to Finalize Minerals Deal in Washington Amid Tensions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Friday to sign a deal granting U.S. access to Ukraine’s mineral resources. While calling the agreement "preliminary," Zelensky stressed the need for further deals, including U.S. security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression. Trump ruled out offering security guarantees beyond "very much," insisting that European nations should bear the responsibility instead. The U.S. president also dismissed Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, claiming Kyiv should "forget about" joining the alliance—echoing Russian assertions that NATO expansion fueled the war. Trump suggested that the presence of American workers extracting rare earth metals in Ukraine would act as "automatic security" for the country. Zelensky warned that without security guarantees, "we won’t have a ceasefire, nothing will work," as Trump claimed a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia was "not far off.” The European Union has criticized the U.S. for excluding European nations from initial ceasefire talks with Russia, arguing that any peace deal on European soil requires European involvement. While details of the minerals deal remain undisclosed, Ukraine’s government approved the agreement on Wednesday, with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal describing an "investment fund" for Ukraine’s reconstruction. Ukraine possesses about 5% of the world's critical raw materials, though a significant portion remains under Russian occupation, complicating resource access for foreign investors. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to meet separately with Trump and Zelensky in Washington to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Current Affairs & Politics,Ukranian,President,Volodymyr Zelensky,US,United States,Ukraine,Donald Trump,Washington,Friday,Security,Resources,Russian,Aggression,Deal,Granting,NATO,Keir Starmer,UK,United Kingdom,Politics
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