President Donald Trump has signaled a possible face-to-face meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington next week, while also leaving open the prospect of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"I might meet President Volodymyr Zelensky next week," Trump said during his February 7 meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the White House.
The U.S. president suggested that any meeting would take place in Washington, as he has no plans to visit Ukraine. He also reiterated discussions with Zelensky about Ukraine's mineral resources, particularly rare earth elements.
"They have underground assets, including rare earth minerals and other valuable resources. But mainly rare earths. We want assurances on that," Trump stated.
Possible Talks With Putin
Trump also mentioned that he "could" hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but did not specify a timeline or location. He emphasized his desire to end the Ukraine conflict, citing the high number of casualties.
Following Trump’s remarks, Zelensky confirmed that Washington and Kyiv were planning discussions, though he did not confirm whether a meeting with Trump was scheduled.
"We appreciate our cooperation with President Trump and are currently planning meetings and discussions at the team level. Our U.S. and Ukrainian teams are working on the details," Zelensky posted on social media.
The Kremlin has not commented on Trump’s statements. However, both Trump and Putin have previously expressed interest in direct talks, with expectations that a potential meeting would focus on ending the Ukraine conflict.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov cautioned on February 7 that there is "a lot of misinformation" regarding U.S. plans to resolve the war, but reaffirmed that Russia remains open to dialogue.
Rare Earths and U.S.-Ukraine Relations
Rare earth minerals are crucial components in high-tech manufacturing, including smartphones, electric vehicle batteries, and advanced military weapons. Analysts believe Trump’s push for rare earth assurances from Ukraine is part of a broader strategy to strengthen U.S. competitiveness and reduce dependence on rival suppliers like China.
In an interview with Reuters published February 7, Zelensky acknowledged Ukraine’s need for U.S. security guarantees and expressed willingness to negotiate an agreement with Washington. However, he emphasized that Ukraine would not simply "give away" its resources, but rather seek a mutually beneficial partnership to jointly develop its mineral wealth.
(Sources: Reuters, AFP, Ukrainska Pravda)
