In a dramatic shift from a week ago when Donald Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator,” the former president is now set to host Zelensky at the White House on Friday. The meeting will culminate in a deal granting Washington access to Ukraine’s rare mineral resources, marking a sharp reversal in Trump’s tone and policy.
This turnaround follows a week of intense diplomatic activity, as Kyiv works to secure continued support despite Trump’s recent overtures to Russia. Two weeks ago, Trump initiated talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin about ending the ongoing war in Ukraine, bypassing Kyiv’s involvement. His comments, in which he labeled Zelensky a dictator and blamed Ukraine for Russia’s invasion, alarmed US allies and raised questions about his foreign policy approach.
However, in recent days, Trump’s rhetoric softened. After visits from French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump expressed newfound respect for Zelensky, saying, “I have a lot of respect for him… We’re going to get along really well.” He also distanced himself from his previous “dictator” remark, stating, “Did I say that? I can’t believe I said that,” when asked by reporters.
The controversy began when Zelensky initially rejected a deal that would provide Washington with preferential access to Ukraine’s natural resources, including oil, gas, and rare earth metals. Zelensky had sought US security guarantees as part of any agreement, but Trump refused to make any such commitments. Despite this, Zelensky eventually agreed to visit the White House and sign the deal, which would allow the US to tap into Ukraine’s mineral wealth.
Trump, who has long championed business and resource deals, emphasized the necessity of this agreement for the US to recover some of the military and financial support it has provided Ukraine. Speaking to reporters, he quipped, “We’ll be dig, dig, digging” for Ukraine’s resources.
Although the specifics of the minerals deal remain unclear, Zelensky has indicated that it serves as a framework for future agreements. Discussions will continue between US and Ukrainian officials to outline the security guarantees and financial details of the accord, though Trump has remained firm in refusing to commit to any security guarantees for Ukraine.
Both Britain and France have offered to send peacekeepers if a peace deal is reached, but they stress the need for US involvement, including intelligence support and possibly air power. Trump has expressed openness to various forms of security support but maintains that the priority is reaching a peace agreement with Russia first. He noted progress toward a deal, though he remains uncertain of when it will materialize: “It’ll either be fairly soon or it won’t be at all.”
As US and Russian officials meet for fresh talks in Istanbul, the future of the Ukraine conflict hangs in the balance, with Trump and Putin reportedly planning to meet in person, though no date has been set yet.
