Washington:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to visit Washington on Friday to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump after officials reached an agreement on the terms of a draft minerals deal, according to two sources familiar with the matter on Tuesday.
The White House declined to comment.
The minerals deal is a key component of Kyiv’s efforts to secure U.S. support as Trump aims to swiftly end the war with Russia. Tensions between Trump and Zelensky escalated last week, with both leaders exchanging harsh remarks.
Trump referred to Zelensky as an unpopular “dictator” who should urgently negotiate a peace deal or risk losing his country, while the Ukrainian president accused Trump of living in a “disinformation bubble.”
One of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, told Reuters that the White House had suggested the visit.
Officials from both sides have agreed to the draft deal and recommended that it be signed, the source added.
The agreement could grant the U.S. access to Ukraine’s extensive mineral resources, with Trump aiming to secure hundreds of billions of dollars to repay Washington for its support.
Another source familiar with the situation mentioned that Zelensky may also meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, though the details of his visit remain fluid.
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