He's Trying To Back Out! Trump Goes Back To Targeting Zelensky
Zelensky’s Alleged Pivot on Minerals Deal Ignites Clash with Trump
President Donald Trump accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of attempting to abandon a critical minerals agreement, warning of severe consequences as tensions flare between the two leaders.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump declared, “He's trying to back out of the rare earth deal,” referring to negotiations granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s mineral wealth. “And if he does that, he's got some problems. Big, big problems.”
The deal, aimed at leveraging Ukraine’s deposits of rare earths, lithium, and titanium to offset over $119 billion in U.S. aid since 2022, hit a wall during Zelensky’s February 28 White House visit. What was meant to be a signing ceremony dissolved into a public spat, with Trump and Vice President JD Vance berating Zelensky on live television for perceived ingratitude. The acrimony stalled progress, despite Zelensky’s later openness to talks in early March. A March 23 draft, however, has fueled Kyiv’s reluctance, lacking firm security commitments and raising sovereignty concerns, per Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak.
Trump suggested Zelensky is pushing to renegotiate, stating, “He wants to renegotiate the deal to get better security guarantees.” He dismissed Zelensky’s broader ambitions, adding, “He wants to be a member of NATO. Well, he was never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that.” Trump views the minerals pact as a financial lifeline for the U.S., though experts note much of Ukraine’s mineral riches lie in Russian-held eastern territories, with no proven rare earth reserves per the U.S. Geological Survey.
As Trump pursues a swift Russia-Ukraine peace—evidenced by his March 18 Putin call—Zelensky’s hesitation threatens vital U.S. support. With Ukraine’s EU goals at odds with Trump’s terms, this rift could reshape alliances and leave Kyiv vulnerable as 2026 looms.
