U.S. mineral deal must include security guarantees for Ukraine — Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he wants the agreement to include security guarantees and emphasized that Ukraine is seeking investment rather than simply the extraction of resources.

“We are not a country of raw materials, and that should be clearly reflected in the document,” Zelenskyy said.

He noted that there is “nothing new” in the agreement, as similar deals have been made between other nations.

“The issue is not what Ukraine can give, but what Ukraine can receive. This is very important to us. We are very interested in signing an agreement with the United States. We have proposals from Europe, but everyone knows the U.S. is our largest strategic partner, so we are open to this,” he said.

Zelenskyy explained that the agreement involves weapons, economic, and political guarantees. While some details may change, he stressed that key provisions must be clearly defined.

“If we talk about the economy, EU membership is mandatory, as it also serves as an economic guarantee. Ukraine seeks to be an equal partner in this large market. Security guarantees also involve understanding U.S. investments. This will boost our economy, but we need clarity on the details. Right now, we do not have security guarantees for our army,” he added.