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Metals Agreement at Risk: Trump Pressures Zelensky… Concessions or No Aid!
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U.S.-Ukraine relations are experiencing unprecedented tension, with the suspension of intelligence aid and the halting of a vital military shipment to Kyiv
As high-level U.S. and Ukrainian delegations prepare to meet in Riyadh next Tuesday to discuss peace negotiations with Moscow and the metals agreement between Kyiv and Washington, it appears that U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing for a fundamental shift in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's stance.
According to a senior Trump administration official and another U.S. source, Trump has made it clear to his aides that the Ukrainian metals deal alone is not enough to resume military aid and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine, as reported by NBC.
The sources stated that Trump demands the signing of an agreement granting the U.S. a stake in Ukraine’s mineral resources. However, he also insists that Zelensky change his approach to peace negotiations, including making concessions that may involve relinquishing certain territories to Russia.
Additionally, they noted that Trump hopes Zelensky will move toward holding presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine—or even consider stepping down—a move that could completely reshape Ukraine’s political landscape.
Tensions between the two leaders escalated after their tense White House meeting on February 28, during which Trump harshly criticized Zelensky, accusing him of trying to spark a third world war by refusing to make any concessions to end the conflict with Moscow.
Trump also lashed out at Zelensky for not showing more gratitude to the U.S., which has provided millions of dollars in aid to Kyiv over the past three years. In response, he halted a previously scheduled military aid shipment, further deepening Ukrainian and European concerns—especially after U.S. intelligence agencies announced the suspension of cooperation with Ukrainian authorities and the cessation of intelligence-sharing.
Amid these growing tensions, Zelensky later reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to peace and its dedication to maintaining strong strategic ties with Washington in an attempt to ease the escalating crisis between the two nations.
