U.S.-Ukraine tensions rise over mineral deal and ceasefire
Kyiv is prepared to sign a mineral agreement with the United States, reported the Ukrainian Prime Minister, Denys Shmyhal. President Volodymyr Zelensky also made a conciliatory statement. These announcements came shortly after Donald Trump decided to suspend military support for Ukraine. Does this suggest Kyiv is in a hurry to resume talks with the U.S. president and offer an apology?
Let's recall that the agreement was meant to be signed last Friday, but negotiations concluded unsuccessfully due to the disagreement between Presidents Trump and Zelensky.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated, "Ukraine is absolutely determined to continue cooperation with the US." He highlighted that American aid is crucial to Kyiv's welfare and helps save thousands of lives. He declared that despite the incident at the White House, Kyiv remains willing to sign a mineral agreement with the U.S. A few hours earlier, Trump had decided to suspend military support for Ukraine. Unofficial reports suggest that he is attempting to compel Zelensky to apologise for the incident on Friday.
Zelensky himself also made a conciliatory statement. On Tuesday afternoon, he wrote, "None of us wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians." He also outlined potential starting points for negotiations.
Why does Trump dislike Zelensky?
According to Mariusz Marszałkowski, an expert at Defence24.pl specialising in security and Eastern policy, there is still an evident disdain for Zelensky from the American side.
- It was present during Trump's first term in the White House. The American president asked Zelensky to investigate Hunter Biden, the son of former American President Joe Biden. Zelensky refused, Trump lost the election in 2019, and the grudge remains today. Trump's advisors, who stir the president, further inculcate this, said Marszałkowski in an interview.
The security expert emphasises that the American president also wishes to maintain amicable relations with Russia.
- Everything also indicates that Trump respects Putin. And Zelensky should, at most, be appreciative of America and heed what the U.S. President has to say. Someone evidently advises the American leader that the priority is not the war in Ukraine, but rather drawing Russia away from China - Marszałkowski assesses.
Trump aims to force Zelensky into an armistice on Washington's terms
According to the expert, Trump seeks to coerce Zelensky into signing a unilateral ceasefire. - Yet, the Ukrainian president does not wish to comply and resists acceding to the American president's demands - Marszałkowski emphasises. This might explain his varied initiatives, such as proposal agreements.
- A ceasefire was already enacted in 2014, which Putin subsequently violated with impunity. Today, Trump intends to compel Zelensky to an armistice on Washington's terms because he views the Ukrainian president as being in a weaker negotiating position. The mineral agreement couldn't be finalised on Friday, so now Trump is endeavouring to secure Ukraine's unconditional surrender, comments the Defence24 expert.
First minerals, now a ceasefire
Should Zelensky apologise to Trump? - Given the presidency he holds and his commitment to his country, personal resentment and pride must be set aside. He should apologise if it would result in further military aid from the U.S.. However, it must be on condition. Neither Trump nor Zelensky should make it a spectacle - Marszałkowski assesses.
Nonetheless, he expresses skepticism about the possibility of such a scenario being realised. - Trump sought a pretext to halt the aid. If Zelensky does not apologise, he will stress the need for more significant support from European partners - the expert adds.
Marszałkowski notes that Ukraine still refers to a mineral agreement to secure a contract.
- Meanwhile, the Americans, including U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, state that Washington now desires a ceasefire. No one in the U.S. is longer talking about minerals or rare earth metals. It appears the White House would indeed sign an agreement, provided Zelensky apologises to Trump for Friday's conduct and consents to an immediate ceasefire. Zelensky's reluctance to apologise and accept U.S. conditions may arise because the agreement contains clauses regarding the truce besides provisions on raw materials. And Zelensky does not want to agree to these - Marszałkowski concludes.
