Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could come to the White House this week or next. This was stated by US President Donald Trump, who is holding a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House today, dedicated to the topic of Ukraine, reported Agence France-Presse, quoted by BTA.
This news was announced by Trump at a time of tension between Kiev and Washington. Last week, after Zelensky refused to sign an initial version of an agreement with the US on Ukrainian rare earth elements, Trump made a number of criticisms of the Ukrainian leader and even called him a dictator who does not hold elections. This caused concern and indignation among a number of allies of Ukraine, but also of the US. Trump's comments about Zelensky followed Trump's phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 13 and a meeting in Riyadh between Russian and U.S. delegations also on Ukraine on February 18.
Now, Trump said during a conversation with visiting Macron that an agreement with Ukraine on Ukrainian minerals was very close to being concluded, world agencies reported. The Ukrainian government had said shortly before that negotiations were in the final stages.
The agreement would give Washington access to Ukrainian minerals in exchange for protection.
During the conversation with Macron, Trump said that it was not a problem to send European peacekeeping forces to Ukraine, Reuters reported. He added that Putin would welcome such forces there, Agence France-Presse noted.
For his part, French President Macron told Trump that Europe was ready to strengthen its defenses, Agence France-Presse reported.
“Our common goal is to build a solid and lasting peace in Ukraine”, he said, adding that he hoped for strong American involvement in guaranteeing this peace. The French leader also said that France was ready to provide guarantees for Ukraine's security.
Macron said that Ukraine should also be involved in negotiations to end the war.