VOLODYMYR Zelensky is expected to sign a historic minerals deal when he visits Donald Trump in Washington on Friday.
The deal – said to be worth up to $500billion – is seen as a way for Ukraine to get the US back on side ahead talks on ending the war with Russia.
The crucial meeting between the two leaders will mark their first face-to-face chat since Trump labelled Zelensky a “dictator”.
Trump confirmed he is due to meet his Ukrainian counterpart when Zelensky travels to the White House in just 48 hours.
The Republican told reporters in the Oval Office last night: “I hear that he’s coming on Friday, certainly it’s okay with me if he’d like to.”
The President said the meeting is likely to see Zelensky agree to a US-proposed deal around Ukrainian minerals.
Kyiv hopes the deal will improve relations with the Trump administration, bolster long-term security ties and draw the Ukraine war closer to an end.
The agreement, which centres on the joint development of Ukraine’s vast mineral resources — including oil and gas — comes after Washington dropped its demand for a $500 billion share of potential revenues.
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Olha Stefanishyna told the Financial Times: “The minerals agreement is only part of the picture.
“We have heard multiple times from the US administration that it’s part of a bigger picture.”
Three senior Kyiv officials added officials are still “working on the details”.
The original terms, which President Trump framed as a way for Ukraine to repay the US for military and financial aid since Russia’s 2022 invasion, were met with fierce backlash.
Trump’s dictator barb is thought to have come after Zelensky rejected the initial draft.
The Republican also blasted his Ukrainian counterpart for not holding elections during wartime.
Despite the comments, the people of Ukraine put their trust in Zelensky and voted for him to remain the country’s President “indefinitely” while under martial law.
The final version of any deal, dated February 24 and seen by the FT, will establish a fund into which Ukraine will contribute 50 per cent of proceeds from future monetisation of state-owned mineral resources.
However, it excludes existing revenue streams from key producers like Naftogaz and Ukrnafta.
Crucially, it leaves unresolved details on the US stake in the fund and terms of joint ownership, which will be determined in future negotiations.
Ukraine has long relied on the US as its primary military aid donor to help them stand up to Putin during his illegal invasion.
Since taking to office in January however, Trump has dramatically shifted Washington’s approach and has held direct talks with Russia without involving Ukraine or European allies.
Officials said the agreement has already been approved by Ukraine’s justice, economy, and foreign ministries.
“This will be a chance for the president to discuss what the bigger picture is. And then after it, we will be able to think of the nextsteps,” a Ukrainian official told the FT.
Trump and Zelensky’s upcoming meeting will have the eyes of the world watching with the two leaders sharing a turbulent relationship for years.
It is thought to date back to when Zelensky was a TV comic before entering politics.
The rift deepened further as the United States shocked allies by siding with Russia in a UN vote on a resolution demanding that Putin’s troops leave Ukraine.
The US administration joined Iran, North Korea, Belarus, Hungary, and 13 others in opposing the motion, while China abstained.
Meanwhile, 93 countries — including the UK and most European nations — backed Ukraine’s call to label Russia the “aggressor.”
President Trump also declined to call Vladimir Putin a “dictator” despite referring to heroic Ukraine president as such.
Speaking from the Oval Office, where he recently held talks with French leader Emmanuel Macron, Mr Trump said: “I think the war could end soon — within weeks, if we’re smart.
“If we’re not smart it will keep going.”
As the war reached its third anniversary on Monday, Ukraine remains defiant in the face of both Russian aggression and increasing uncertainty over US support under Trump’s leadership.
