London/New York — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky plans to travel to Washington on Friday to meet US President Donald Trump after officials agreed to terms on a draft minerals deal, two sources with knowledge of the matter said on Tuesday.
The White House declined to comment.
The minerals deal is central to Kyiv’s push to win US support as Trump seeks to rapidly end the war with Russia. Trump and Zelensky exchanged hostile words last week.
Trump called Zelensky an unpopular “dictator” who needed to cut a quick peace deal or lose his country, while the Ukrainian leader said the US president was living in a “disinformation bubble”.
One of the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said the White House had proposed the visit.
Officials on both sides have agreed to the draft and advised it should be signed, the source said.
The deal could open up Ukraine's vast mineral wealth to the US, with Trump seeking hundreds of billions of dollars to repay Washington for its support.
Another source familiar with the matter said Zelensky may meet legislators on Capitol Hill, but that the schedule of the visit was still in flux.
Reuters
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.