Archive: https://archive.is/2025.03.04-163249/https://www.ft.com/content/bb5e5d32-d192-48ce-9477-d32210e26a79

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine remains committed to signing a minerals deal with the US “at any time and in any convenient format”, in a conciliatory gesture after plans to sign the agreement collapsed last week.

In a post on X on Tuesday, the Ukrainian leader expressed regret over his clash at the White House with US President Donald Trump and his vice-president JD Vance on Friday, which led to plans to sign a deal over Ukraine’s minerals being abandoned.

“Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be,” Zelenskyy wrote.

“Regarding the agreement on minerals and security,” he added. “Ukraine is ready to sign it in any time and in any convenient format. We see this agreement as a step toward greater security and solid security guarantees, and I truly hope it will work effectively.”

The minerals deal had been intended to set up a joint US-Ukrainian “investment fund” that would receive half of all revenues from the “future monetisation” of the country’s natural resources.

Zelenskyy had hoped that the minerals agreement would help move the US, a key ally, closer to providing the guarantees that could bolster a future ceasefire.

However, after a the White House meeting between Zelenskyy, Trump and Vance on Friday devolved into a dramatic argument, the Ukrainian leader left Washington before any deal was signed.

On Monday, Trump ratcheted up pressure on Zelenskyy to make concessions for a peace deal by suspending military aid to Ukraine.

Earlier in the day, the US president renewed his public attacks on Zelenskyy and suggested that a weekend of intense European diplomacy over ending the war had failed to improve Kyiv’s standing.