![\"Zelensky](\"http:\/\/newsgho.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_2818.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nAccording to The Wall Street Journal, sources say the deal is imminent and could be signed within hours.<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s Pressure Tactics<\/p>\n
The agreement comes after weeks of intense pressure from Trump, who reportedly threatened to cut all U.S. funding to Ukraine if Zelensky refused to comply.<\/p>\n
Zelensky\u2019s handling of the negotiations frustrated Trump\u2019s entire team, which included:
\n\u2022 Sen. JD Vance
\n\u2022 Sen. Marco Rubio
\n\u2022 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
\n\u2022 National Security Advisor Michael Waltz<\/p>\n
Trump was particularly angered when Zelensky arrived late to a meeting with Bessent on February 12 and was allegedly \u201crude\u201d when offered an initial proposal.<\/p>\n
At another meeting in Munich on February 14, Zelensky told U.S. officials he couldn\u2019t approve the deal alone, further infuriating Trump.<\/p>\n
Three days later, Zelensky publicly rejected the agreement, calling it \u201cnot in the interests of a sovereign Ukraine.\u201d<\/p>\n
The situation escalated when Trump branded Zelensky a \u201cdictator\u201d on social media.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s at Stake: Ukraine\u2019s $Trillions in Resources<\/p>\n
Ukraine possesses some of Europe\u2019s largest reserves of titanium, lithium, and rare earth minerals, which are critical for industries like aerospace, defense, and electric vehicles.<\/p>\n
With China dominating global rare-earth supplies, securing Ukrainian resources has become a top priority for the U.S.<\/p>\n
However, Zelensky initially rejected the U.S. offer, calling it too vague and demanding 50% of the revenue from Ukraine\u2019s mineral deposits.<\/p>\n
Reports indicate Trump\u2019s initial demand was $500 billion worth of minerals\u2014five times the $100 billion the U.S. has provided in military aid to Ukraine.<\/p>\n
How the Deal Finally Came Together<\/p>\n
With talks at a standstill, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg\u2014Trump\u2019s envoy to Ukraine\u2014stepped in to rescue negotiations.<\/p>\n
Despite Trump previously criticizing Kellogg for being \u201ctoo pro-Zelensky\u201d, the general traveled to Kyiv for three days of closed-door meetings.<\/p>\n
After their discussions, Zelensky softened his stance, saying Kellogg\u2019s involvement \u201crestores hope\u201d and instructing his team to finalize the deal \u201cswiftly and sensibly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Key Terms of the Deal: U.S. Gets First Rights to Ukraine\u2019s Minerals<\/p>\n
A leaked draft of the agreement, reviewed by The Telegraph, reportedly grants the U.S. \u201cfirst refusal rights\u201d on all exportable Ukrainian minerals.<\/p>\n
However, Ukrainian officials have raised concerns that the contract offers little in return beyond vague promises of future \u201csecurity guarantees.\u201d<\/p>\n
A senior official told The Financial Times:
\n\u201cWhen we looked at the details, there was nothing there [about future U.S. security guarantees].\u201d<\/p>\n
Another source revealed a troubling clause that effectively prioritizes U.S. interests over Ukraine\u2019s needs:
\n\u201cIn other words, the contract means: \u2018Pay us first, and then feed your children.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
A Deal Worse Than Germany\u2019s Post-WWI Reparations?<\/p>\n
Experts have compared the contract\u2019s terms to the Treaty of Versailles, arguing that Trump\u2019s demands could take a greater share of Ukraine\u2019s GDP than the reparations imposed on Germany after World War I.<\/p>\n
Trump and his supporters have long criticized U.S. aid to Ukraine, with Trump previously mocking Zelensky as \u201cthe greatest salesman on Earth\u201d for securing billions in military support.<\/p>\n
What Happens Next?<\/p>\n
While Ukraine may be on the verge of signing the deal, challenges remain.
\n\u2022 Much of Ukraine\u2019s mineral-rich eastern regions are occupied by Russia.
\n\u2022 Mining operations have stalled due to the war, making resource extraction a major risk.
\n\u2022 Ukraine still demands real security guarantees, not just economic agreements.<\/p>\n
Zelensky has suggested Kyiv could invite the EU and other allies to join the deal to ensure greater protection for Ukraine\u2019s interests.<\/p>\n
However, Trump\u2019s strategy has been clear from the start: Ukraine must pay the U.S. back\u2014with its natural resources.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Trump Secures Ukraine Mineral Deal After Standoff with Zelensky Former U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly forced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into signing a deal that gives the … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":22392,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22391","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22391","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=22391"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22391\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22393,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22391\/revisions\/22393"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/22392"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=22391"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=22391"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=22391"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}