Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump signaled that a potential agreement allowing American investment in Ukraine’s mineral sector remains on the table, despite recent tensions with Kyiv. His comments came as European leaders continued efforts to broker a truce in Russia’s ongoing war with its neighbor.
The Trump administration views the minerals deal as a means for the U.S. to recoup some of the tens of billions of dollars provided to Ukraine in financial and military aid since Russia’s invasion three years ago. However, a heated exchange in the Oval Office last week between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy cast doubt on the pact’s future.
When asked at the White House if the deal was dead, Trump responded, “No, I don’t think so.” He described it as a “great deal for us” and promised an update on the matter.
US President Donald Trump said he wants Ukraine to be more thankful for military support while Europe rallied around President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and floated a plan for a month-long pause in fighting, leading to peace talks https://t.co/y1y15HwLSf pic.twitter.com/G3kvh3Pngk
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 4, 2025
Shift in US Policy Raises Concerns in Europe
Since assuming office in January, Trump has reshaped U.S. policy toward Ukraine and Russia, adopting a more conciliatory stance toward Moscow—an approach that has unsettled Kyiv and its European allies.
On Monday, he reiterated that Zelenskiy should show more appreciation for U.S. support. His remarks followed an Associated Press report quoting Zelenskiy as saying the war’s end remains “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.
The shift in U.S. policy has left European officials grappling with what some describe as Washington’s most significant foreign policy reversal since World War Two. Zelenskiy’s abrupt departure from Washington on Friday, following a public rebuke by Trump and Vice President JD Vance, further underscored the uncertainty.
White House Pushes for Minerals Deal
Despite the friction, U.S. officials continue to push for the minerals agreement.
“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.
Republicans in Congress are also advocating for the deal’s revival. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Ukraine caucus, indicated that discussions with Zelenskiy’s chief of staff suggested the deal would be signed soon. “We are 100% getting this train back on the tracks,” he said.
Senate Republican leader John Thune echoed that sentiment, expressing hope that both sides could move forward.
European Leaders Seek Alternative Peace Strategies
As U.S.-Ukraine relations grow strained, European leaders are stepping up efforts to craft a peace plan.
“There are clearly a number of options on the table,” said a spokesman for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
France, Britain, and other European nations have proposed sending troops to Ukraine if a ceasefire is reached—an idea already dismissed by Moscow. However, they have indicated they would require U.S. backing or a security “backstop” to proceed.
Zelenskiy has emphasized that any ceasefire must come with concrete security guarantees from the West to prevent future Russian aggression, given that Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory. Trump, however, has refused to commit to such guarantees.
Starmer hosted European leaders in London to discuss a potential roadmap for peace. During the discussions, French President Emmanuel Macron suggested a one-month truce to assess Russian President Vladimir Putin’s commitment to peace.
“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,” said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. “And that’s when real peace negotiations could start.”
Macron noted that European ground troops would only be deployed in a later phase of the process. Asked about these proposals, Zelenskiy responded, “I’m aware of everything.”
Kremlin Observes Western Divisions
Germany’s incoming chancellor, Friedrich Merz, suggested that the Oval Office dispute was a “manufactured escalation” by the White House. “We must now show that we are in a position to act independently in Europe,” Merz said.
Frustration is mounting among European officials, who see Washington’s shifting stance as a betrayal of Ukraine. French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou described the Oval Office clash as a setback for both Ukraine’s security and the transatlantic alliance. “There were two victims,” he said in the French parliament.
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Despite the tensions, European diplomats are working to maintain ties with Washington. Britain’s ambassador to the U.S., Peter Mandelson, acknowledged the need to “reset” Ukrainian-U.S. relations, emphasizing that Trump’s diplomatic push is “the only show in town.”
Trump’s recent phone call with Putin and his subsequent announcement that peace talks would begin soon reportedly caught both Zelenskiy and European leaders off guard. His dissatisfaction with Europe’s historically low defense spending has only deepened the divide.
EU Prepares for Greater Defense Spending
In response, European leaders are pushing for a more robust defense strategy to assert the continent’s ability to protect itself.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced plans to bolster the European defense industry, stating: “We need a massive surge in defense, without any question. We want lasting peace, but lasting peace can only be built on strength, and strength begins with strengthening ourselves.”
As European nations scramble to realign their security strategy, Russia has openly welcomed Washington’s policy shift.
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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed that Western unity was weakening. “We see that the collective West has partially begun to lose its collectivity, and a fragmentation of the collective West has begun,” he said.
With the future of U.S. support for Ukraine uncertain, European leaders face mounting pressure to fill the gap—both in security guarantees and financial commitments—as they navigate a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape.
