Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is ready to sign a minerals deal with the United States, aiming to boost Ukraine's post-conflict recovery. 🤝 However, significant challenges remain on the table.
Zelenskyy expressed his readiness to finalize the agreement during a late-night media session in London, emphasizing that the deal will be signed if both parties are prepared. The proposed deal focuses on the joint exploitation of Ukraine's vast mineral resources, a key component of a U.S.-brokered peace deal intended to help end the ongoing conflict. 🛠️✨
However, the agreement hit a snag after a tense Oval Office meeting where former President Trump criticized Zelenskyy, urging him to show more gratitude for U.S. support. Trump asserted that without American assistance, Ukraine might have fallen to Russian forces, complicating the deal further.
Experts like Zhao Huirong from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences highlight multiple hurdles, including Europe's interest in mineral cooperation with Ukraine, which creates a competitive dynamic with the U.S. Additionally, uncertainties about Ukraine's mineral reserves and the complexities of extraction pose significant obstacles. 💬🔍
At a recent summit hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European allies reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine's security, pledging increased support and a coalition to defend any truce. Despite these efforts, Ukraine continues to seek robust U.S. military aid to strengthen its position and avoid further losses in future negotiations.
Looking ahead, Zhao predicts that a truce between Russia and Ukraine could be on the horizon within the next six months to a year, although lasting peace remains uncertain as territorial disputes persist. French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed a partial one-month truce, but Zelenskyy remains firm, stating that Ukraine will not concede any territory to Russia as part of any peace deal. 🇺🇦🕊️
