US President Donald Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House on Friday for high-stakes discussions on Ukraine’s economic future and its ongoing war with Russia. The leaders addressed a landmark deal granting the US access to Ukraine’s vast natural resources, as well as potential solutions to the prolonged conflict.
US-Ukraine Resource Deal
During his visit, Zelenskyy is set to sign an economic agreement allowing the US to tap into Ukraine’s deep reserves of oil, gas, and rare-earth minerals. These resources are critical for technology and energy sectors. The deal is expected to secure funding for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction and strengthen economic ties between the two nations.
“We’ll be dig, dig, digging,” Trump remarked ahead of the meeting, emphasizing the economic opportunities the deal presents for both sides.
Trump’s Stance on Ukraine-Russia War
Apart from economic cooperation, the leaders discussed the ongoing war with Russia. Trump recently made headlines by engaging in direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin about Ukraine—without Kyiv’s participation—marking a major shift in US policy.
He has also taken a tough stance on Zelenskyy, referring to him as a “dictator” and urging him to negotiate a settlement quickly or risk losing Ukraine as a nation. However, Trump later retracted his remark, saying, “Did I say that? I can’t believe I said that.”
Zelenskyy’s Response
Zelenskyy, in turn, criticized Trump for engaging with Russian narratives, stating that the former US president was operating in a “Russian-made disinformation space.”
Rising Tensions and Global Concerns
The tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy have raised concerns among European allies, many of whom worry about Washington’s evolving stance on the conflict. As the US re-engages diplomatically with Russia, Ukraine’s leadership faces mounting pressure to secure long-term Western support.
With this meeting, the future of US-Ukraine relations hangs in the balance, as both economic and geopolitical stakes continue to rise.
