White House expects Ukraine to sign critical minerals deal soon
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White House national security adviser Mike Waltz speaking at a press conference on Feb 20.
PHOTO: NYTIMES
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WASHINGTON - White House national security adviser Mike Waltz said on Feb 21 he expects Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to sign a minerals agreement with the United States as part of efforts to end the Ukraine war, while President Donald Trump said Kyiv has no cards to play.
Mr Zelensky's office said the Ukrainian president's chief of staff, Mr Andriy Yermak, discussed "aligning positions" in bilateral relations in a call with Mr Waltz on Feb 21 after sharp exchanges between Mr Trump and the Ukrainian leader.
Mr Trump denounced Mr Zelensky as a "dictator"
The sharp change in tone from the United States, Ukraine's most important backer, has alarmed European officials and stoked fears that Kyiv could be forced into a peace deal that favours Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Mr Zelensky had said Mr Trump was trapped in a "disinformation bubble", but later toned down his statements and said he was hoping for American pragmatism.
Mr Zelensky on Feb 19 rejected US demands
In the call with Mr Waltz, Mr Yermak "stressed the importance of maintaining bilateral cooperation and a high level of relations between Ukraine and the United States," Mr Zelensky's office said.
A few hours later Mr Waltz told the Conservative Political Action Conference on the outskirts of Washington: "Here's the bottom line, President Zelensky is going to sign that deal, and you will see that in the very short term."
Mr Waltz said on Feb 20 that Mr Zelensky needed to come back to the negotiating table.
Asked about Mr Waltz's latest comments, a Ukrainian government source said the two sides were "still in talks".
‘They don’t have any cards’
Speaking at a White House event on Feb 21, Mr Trump was critical of Mr Zelensky while holding off on negative comments about Mr Putin.
"I've had very good talks with Putin, and I've had not such good talks with Ukraine," Mr Trump said.
"They don't have any cards, but they're playing tough."
The German government said on Feb 21 that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Mr Zelensky had spoken by phone and agreed that Ukraine must have a seat at the table in future peace talks.
Polish President Andrzej Duda urged Mr Zelensky on Feb 21 to keep up calm and constructive cooperation with Mr Trump, following the US president's criticism of him.
"I suggested to President Zelensky to remain committed to the course of calm and constructive cooperation with Donald Trump," Mr Duda wrote on the X social media platform.
"I have no doubt that President Trump is guided by a deep sense of responsibility for global stability and peace."
Mr Duda, whose term in office expires in 2025, was one of Mr Trump's preferred international partners during his 2017-2021 presidency and they have described themselves as friends.
Poland's president is due to meet Mr Trump in Washington on Feb 22, Poland's state news agency PAP reported.
Mr Zelensky said on Feb 21 he had discussed in a call with Mr Duda the dialogue with the US team led by Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg.
"It is important that the United States stand with us. A strong and lasting peace can only be achieved through unity," Mr Zelensky said on X. REUTERS
