WESTERN PERSPECTIVE
US signals Ukraine minerals deal possible as Europe floats peace proposals
U.S. President Donald Trump hinted on Monday that a deal to open up Ukraine's minerals to U.S. investment could still be agreed despite his frustration with Kyiv, as European leaders floated proposals for a truce in Russia's war with its neighbor.
The Trump administration views such a deal as America's way of earning back some of the tens of billions of dollars it has given to Ukraine in financial and military aid since Russia invaded three years ago.
But an explosive clash in the Oval Office last week between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy put the potential pact in doubt. When asked on Monday if the deal was dead, Trump said at the White House: "No, I don't think so."
Trump described it as a "great deal for us" and said he would give an update on the situation on Tuesday night.
Trump has upended U.S. policy on Ukraine and Russia after taking office in January, adopting a more conciliatory stance towards Moscow that has left Kyiv and European allies wary.
On Monday he again said Zelenskiy should be more appreciative of U.S. support after earlier responding angrily to an Associated Press report quoting Zelenskiy as saying the end of the war is "very, very far away."
"This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!" Trump wrote on Truth Social, using an alternative spelling of the Ukrainian leader's name.
European leaders are processing what some describe as Washington's biggest policy reversal since World War Two, after Zelenskiy left the White House abruptly on Friday after a public dressing-down by Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Zelenskiy departed Washington without signing the minerals deal.
"What we need to hear from President Zelenskiy is that he has regret for what happened, he's ready to sign this minerals deal and that he's ready to engage in peace talks," White House national security adviser Mike Waltz told Fox News.
"We'll see what happens in the next 48 hours, but we are certainly looking to move forward in a positive way."
Some Republicans have pushed to revive the deal.
Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the U.S. House of Representatives' Ukraine caucus, said on X that he had spoken to Zelenskiy's chief of staff and that the minerals deal was to be "signed in short order."
"We are 100% getting this train back on the tracks," the Pennsylvania Republican said.
Senate Republican leader John Thune also said he hoped the two sides could get "back on track."
EUROPE RALLIES AROUND UKRAINE
European countries are rallying around Zelenskiy and trying to hatch a peace plan.
"There are clearly a number of options on the table," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesman said.
France, Britain and potentially other European countries have offered to send troops to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire - something Moscow has already rejected - but say they would want support from the U.S., or a "backstop."
Zelenskiy says a ceasefire must carry explicit security guarantees from the West to ensure that Russia, which holds about 20% of its land, does not attack again. Trump has refused to give any such guarantees.
Starmer hosted European leaders in London on Sunday and said they agreed to draw up a peace plan to present to Washington.
In an interview on his way to the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron raised the possibility of a one-month truce, though there was no immediate public endorsement from allies.
"Such a truce on air, sea and energy infrastructure would allow us to determine whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is acting in good faith when he commits to a truce," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said.
"And that's when real peace negotiations could start."
European ground troops would only be deployed to Ukraine in a second phase, Macron told Le Figaro.
Zelenskiy, asked if he was aware of that proposal, told reporters in London: "I'm aware of everything."
KREMLIN SEES 'FRAGMENTATION' OF THE WEST
Friedrich Merz, the conservative due to become Germany's chancellor, suggested Friday's Oval Office argument, in which Zelenskiy was pressed to commit publicly to a diplomatic solution, had been a "manufactured escalation" by the White House.
"We must now show that we are in a position to act independently in Europe," Merz said.
Privately, and sometimes publicly, European officials are fuming at what they see as a betrayal of Ukraine, which had enjoyed staunch support from Washington since Russia's invasion.
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said there had been "two victims" from the Oval Office clash: Ukraine's security and Europe's eight-decade alliance with the United States. In the French parliament, he thanked Zelenskiy for standing firm.
But Europeans are also still working to keep the U.S. onside. Peter Mandelson, Britain's ambassador to the United States, said Ukrainian-U.S. relations needed to be reset, as Trump's initiative to end the war was "the only show in town."
Trump spoke by phone with Putin last month and then announced negotiations to end the war would begin quickly, blindsiding both Zelenskiy and his other Western allies.
Trump has also bristled at what he says is Europe's long-standing failure to take on a greater share of its own security burden by collectively boosting defence spending.
European leaders now agree they must spend more on defence to show Trump the continent can protect itself. The EU will hold an emergency summit on Thursday.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she would inform member states on Tuesday about plans to strengthen the European defence industry and the EU's military capabilities.
"We need a massive surge in defence, without any question. We want lasting peace, but lasting peace can only be built on strength, and strength begins with strengthening ourselves," she said.
Russia has not concealed its delight, praising Trump for changing U.S. policy and denouncing Zelenskiy.
"We see that the collective West has partially begun to lose its collectivity, and a fragmentation of the collective West has begun," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE
Ukrainian parliament commends Trump’s peace efforts
Ukraine’s 450-seat parliament – the Verkhovna Rada – released a statement on Monday evening saying that US President Donald Trump will play a key role in negotiating a peace deal between Kiev and Moscow. The public endorsement of Trump’s mediation efforts comes after Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has refused to apologize for last week’s public spat with Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance in the White House.
In a statement on the parliamentary website, the MPs stressed the “decisive” role of American aid and said that the Rada “welcomes President Donald Trump’s initiatives to launch a negotiation process aimed at securing peace.”
“On behalf of the Ukrainian people, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine expresses its profound gratitude to President Donald Trump, the United States Congress, and the American people for their firm and consistent support of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” the statement read.
“At present, this support is more crucial than ever for the Ukrainian people and the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine,” the legislators wrote. They added that they believe that Trump’s mediation efforts “will be decisive in the swift cessation of hostilities and the achievement of peace for Ukraine, Europe, and the entire world.”
The Rada also stressed “the necessity of further developing the strategic partnership with the United States, particularly in the exploration of critical minerals.”
The feud between Trump and Zelensky escalated last month after Ukrainian and EU officials criticized Trump for opening direct talks with Russia without their advice and approval. Trump branded Zelensky “a dictator,”while his team blasted the Ukrainian leader for declining to sign a deal on the development of Ukraine’s critical mineral deposits.
The meeting in the White House on Friday descended into a rare public shouting match, with Vice President J.D. Vance accusing Zelensky of being ungrateful for the military and financial aid America has provided since 2022. Trump later claimed that Zelensky was being disrespectful and did not want peace in Ukraine.
In an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier on Friday, Zelensky refused to apologize to Trump directly. He reiterated that Ukraine was seeking security guarantees from the US and needed to be in a “strong position” in a potential ceasefire deal.
In a post on X, Zelensky thanked Trump, the US Congress, and the American people. “Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that,” he wrote.
Trump has so far ruled out providing specific security guarantees, such as admitting Ukraine into NATO or contributing American troops to a future peacekeeping mission. He also argued that Zelensky did “not have the cards” to complain about being sidelined during the US-Russia talks that took place last month in Riyadh.
Reuters/RT
