Trump and Zelenskyy Meet to Forge Mineral Deal Amidst NATO Tensions and Russian Scrutiny

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine met with President Donald Trump this Friday in a move aimed at solidifying a critical minerals deal that could potentially de-escalate the ongoing conflict with Russia. This marks their first encounter since Trump's return to the White House. While details have been trickling out since the announcement, the specifics of the agreement remain somewhat hazy. Everyone from European leaders to Vladimir Putin is holding their breath to see what this means, especially concerning security guarantees. Trump mentioned on Wednesday that Zelenskyy might as well kiss any NATO aspirations goodbye. Zelenskyy, however, insists on security assurances, stating plainly, "otherwise we won't have a ceasefire, nothing will work, nothing." Zelenskyy has been vocal about finding "a NATO path or something similar." Ukraine has been eyeing NATO membership for a while, with the alliance agreeing back in 2008 that Ukraine would eventually join. Zelenskyy has been pushing the idea that this is the best defense against further Russian aggression. Trump suggested that this new minerals deal would provide "automatic security" simply by having American extractors on Ukrainian soil. "Nobody’s going to be messing around with our people when we’re there," Trump stated confidently. **I mean, it sounds good on paper, but let's be real, 'automatic security' via mineral rights? It feels a bit like relying on a handshake at a biker bar.** Whether this "guarantee" will be enough for Zelenskyy remains to be seen. Former CIA Moscow Station Chief Dan Hoffman points out that there are still too many unknowns to determine if Putin will be deterred. This includes Ukraine's rearmament capabilities and whether NATO countries will commit troops to Ukraine. Hoffman emphasized the importance of the U.S. having "economic skin in the game" to foster a stronger bilateral relationship with an independent Ukraine. Trump noted that allies like the U.K. and France are closely monitoring these negotiations. "They volunteered to put so-called peacekeepers on the site. And I think that’s a good thing," he added. Kaja Kallas, a top EU diplomat, suggested that the agreement could be beneficial for Ukraine if it strengthens their negotiating position against Russia. She highlighted the U.S.'s self-interest in the deal, hoping that economic ties will solidify support for Ukraine. "Right now, it is a very important message that we send that we are behind Ukraine, to make them strong enough to be able to say no to a bad deal," she stated. Putin's administration reportedly proposed a similar arrangement during a meeting in Saudi Arabia last week, suggesting a deal that would grant the U.S. access to minerals in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. The Trump administration hasn't ruled out an economic agreement with Moscow, which, let's be honest, is a bold move. Hoffman believes that making a deal with Trump is strategically advantageous for Zelenskyy as it would hinder Putin's objectives. "[Putin] doesn't want Ukraine to have commercial relationships with Europe and the United States," Hoffman explained. "The more links Ukraine has to the West … it's not good for Putin."