Ukraine, US Near Preliminary Minerals Deal Ahead of Zelensky-Trump Meeting

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to visit Washington on February 28 to finalize a significant preliminary agreement with the United States regarding access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals. The deal is expected to provide the U.S. with a stake in Ukraine's state-owned natural resources while reallocating some revenue to a jointly controlled fund, although it does not include explicit security guarantees, which remain a crucial point of negotiation. Concurrently, Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev is attempting to entice U.S. business leaders like Elon Musk and Donald Trump with potential lucrative deals in exchange for cooperation on ending the Ukraine war. Dmitriev's strategy involves showcasing Russian resource opportunities to leverage U.S. interests, particularly appealing to Trump's pragmatic approach. The negotiations reflect a shifting geopolitical landscape, as Trump's administration has altered its stance on support for Ukraine and relations with Russia. This context sets the stage for heightened discussions between Zelensky and Trump about both economic and security arrangements for Ukraine.