Ukraine President Volodimir Zelenski described the compromise in which talks with the United States on the exploitation of his country’s mineral resources described as a “start-up” and stressed that his success would depend on Donald’s talks with Donald. Trump.

‘It’s a beginning, it’s just a frame-a-frame’he told reporters in Kiev, which can provide security guarantees in Ukraine to ensure a sustainable and fair peace. ‘This agreement can be a great success or just disappear’explained Zelenski. ‘This will depend on our conversations with President Trump »whom he hopes to meet on Friday.

The Ukrainian president said he intends to ask Trump directly if he is going to stop the help to Ukraine.

‘There is a date of work (…) on Friday’The Ukrainian president said during the press conference. “My question (to Mr Trump) will be very straight: will the United States cut off or not? And if this is no longer a help, can we buy weapons? “.

“The US agreement on minerals will be signed at a ministerial level and does not need ratification”he stressed.

The agreement has not yet been finalized, the Ukrainian leader told reporters in Kiev on Wednesday, saying it takes time to study the plan and consult European allies. But he said the plan was acceptable, as some of the original requirements of the Trump team have retired.

At the same time, he said he could not yet confirm his trip to Washington on Friday as the teams work on the issue.

He also wants to discuss with Trump the opportunity to use frozen Russian assets for the development of mining resources, the market for weapons and rebuilding the country. The Ukrainian president stressed that Ukraine should know what it might count from the US.

Zelenski also said that no debt to the US should be repaid in the wording of the mineral agreement.

‘No security guarantees in the original agreement’

According to the BBC, Zelenski said he hoped that an initial US agreement on minerals “will lead to further agreements”, but confirmed that US security guarantees have not yet been agreed.

He referred to a joint fund in which Ukraine would contribute 50% of the revenue from natural resources, but added that it was “too early to talk about money”.

He also said that his team pressed the Americans to include a proposal to support security guarantees, although it has not yet been decided.

“I wanted to have a suggestion on security guarantees for Ukraine and it is important to exist”he added.

Regarding Donald Trump’s previous demands for Ukraine to return the military aid of billions of dollars provided by the US to date, Zelenski said the deal would not provide Ukraine to “return 10 cents”.

The BBC asked Zelenski if he would leave the deal if Trump did not offer the security guarantees he wanted, and he replied: ‘I want to find a course to NATO or something like’adding: “If we do not get security guarantees we will not have a ceasefire, nothing will work”.

Without security guarantees, the Ukrainian government will not sign the mineral agreement, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Smichal said.

“The main issue is to continue US aid to Ukraine”

Commenting on the mineral agreement during a press conference in Kiev, the Ukrainian president stressed that the main issue for him is to continue US aid to Ukraine.

Noted that the preliminary agreement on minerals ‘It’s just a beginning, a context, can be a great success’. “Success will depend on our conversation with President Trump,” he said.

He added that he would push for security guarantees for Ukraine associated with any future – wider – bilateral agreements.

It is noted that the US was a major military aid provider to Ukraine under Biden presidency, but US President Donald Trump has proposed a revision of Washington’s assistance.

White House official: If Zelenski says the fossil agreement has not been finalized, the invitation to meet Trump may not make sense

A White House official expressed doubts on Wednesday whether an invitation to Zelenski for a meeting with Trump would make sense, given Zelenski’s statements that the fossil agreement has not been finalized.

“If the Ukrainian leader says the agreement has not been finalized, I do not see why an invitation would make sense.”the official told Reuters. “There is an expectation that his arrival is to recognize the final position (for the mineral agreement) and is not in the final position in this new wording.”.