After a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his willingness to sign a minerals deal that had been intended to be signed in Washington, D.C. on Friday. The deal hit a roadblock during discussions in the Oval Office, leading to Zelensky being asked to leave.
According to reporting by the BBC, here is what was said (through a translator):
Zelensky confirmed that the minerals deal is prepared for signing by the minister. He emphasized their commitment to building on past agreements and maintaining a constructive approach. He stated, “If we reached an agreement to sign the minerals deal, we are prepared to follow through with signing it.”
“The agreement that’s on the table will be signed if the parties are ready,” he concludes.
The content of the conversation was relayed by a translator, highlighting the importance of accuracy in interpretation. Zelensky’s statement suggests a readiness to finalize the deal that was originally scheduled for signing on Friday.
The agreement on the minerals, the deal is ready. We are — if it wasn’t ready. There were many variants. But there is the last one, it is ready, and the ministers can sign it. Everywhere where I have said it as a president that we can do it. We do not retreat. It is our policy to continue despite what happened in the — in the past. We are constructive. If — we agreed upon signing it, we were ready to sign it. And honestly, I believe that the US will be ready as well. Perhaps there is a need in time to analyze certain things, but I would just want Ukrainian position to be heard.
The fact that it happened in the media, I did not prepare this meeting, and I was in those conditions that were there, and our extent was heard. Because I didn’t want our position to be ambiguous. It’s — I think that it was heard now and not at the negotiation table at which Putin will be present. We must all understand and know each other, understand these are those red lines. They are not emotional, they just happen to be there, and there is justice and truth, and that is it.
Then, somewhat humbly, Zelensky says they’re ready to sign “the agreement that is on the table,” presumably referring to the agreement that should have been signed on Friday.
I’m ready for any format, constructive format and relationship with the United States, and I believe that we have it all and it is our capacity to preserve all that. On our side, once again, we very much count on that. We are willing, and we will be — the agreement that is on the table, it will be signed if the parties are ready. And I’ve said what I think, because the agreement has two parties.
However, President Trump is reported to have said on Friday night that he’s not open to talking to Zelensky about any deal as long as Zelensky aims to keep fighting instead of working toward a peace agreement. And, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday during an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation” that the deal that was to be signed Friday isn’t on the table.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says that security for Ukraine after a potential ceasefire deal with Russia would be provided by the European Union, “not NATO.”
He says the economic and ceasefire deal that President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had before… pic.twitter.com/uoLYjjWMn4
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) March 2, 2025
In this press conference, Zelensky’s attitude has been less confrontational than his attitude in Washington, D.C., but the longer it goes on, the less amiable Zelensky sounds. He might need to learn when to stop talking.
