Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Washington to sign a $500 billion minerals deal with Donald Trump, just days after the U.S. President branded him a “dictator.”
The deal will give America access to Ukraine’s vast mineral resources but does not, so far, include U.S. security guarantees.
Zelenskyy’s visit comes at a time of heightened tensions between Ukraine and the U.S. Earlier in the month, Trump blindsided world leaders after calling Vladimir Putin to discuss the war in Ukraine and then further aggravated relations with Kyiv after calling Zelenskyy a dictator.
Asked if he still felt that way on Thursday, Trump appeared to backtrack: “Did I say that?” he asked. “I can’t believe I said that. Next question.”
It’s been revealed that the White House initially considered canceling the meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy, only to reverse the decision following the intervention of French President Emmanuel Macron.
However, as the minerals deal edges closer, Trump’s attitude has softened. On Thursday, he told a press conference that he had “a lot of respect” for the Ukrainian president and that Ukraine had “fought very bravely.”
While the minerals deal stops short of providing Ukraine with security guarantees, Donald Trump said that the presence of American workers in Ukraine would deter Vladimir Putin from attacking the country once more.
He added: “I don’t think anybody’s going to play around if we’re there with a lot of workers and having to do with rare earths and other things which we need for our country.”
Trump also underscored his belief that Vladimir Putin could be trusted. “I think he’ll keep to his word,” he said, referring to any future peace talks. “I don’t believe he is going to violate his word. I don’t think he’ll be back when we make a deal.”
As European leaders scramble to bolster their defensive capabilities after the U.S. administration warned them that they should be less reliant on American guarantees, Trump reiterated his support for NATO’s Article 5, a provision which states that an attack on one NATO member constitutes an attack on all.
“I support it,” said Trump, “[but] I don’t think we’re going to have any reason for it. I think we’re going to have a very successful peace, and I think it’s going to be a long, lasting peace, and I think it’s going to happen, hopefully quickly.”
