A telephone call took place between the American presidents Donald Trump and Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky this Thursday evening, after the ratification by the Ukrainian parliament of the agreement with Washington on the exploitation of natural resources of Ukraine.
Shortly after the interview, Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine was “ready” to lead “all negotiation formats” with Moscow to find a way out of the conflict launched by the Russian invasion. “But for this to happen, Russia must show that it seriously wants to finish the war, starting with a complete and unables-free ceasefire,” continued the Ukrainian president, in a message published on social networks.
Donald Trump called him to a “unconditional 30-day ceasefire” in Ukraine. Russia like Ukraine “will have to account” and “if the ceasefire is not respected, the United States and its partners will impose other sanctions,” threatened the American president, judging that a cease-fire should lead to a “lasting peace” and promises to “remain engaged” in the discussions in this sense.
“Diplomacy and ceasefire”
According to a senior official of the Ukrainian presidency, the conversation, in English lasted about twenty minutes and had as main subjects “diplomacy and the ceasefire”, which Washington and kyiv try to establish on the front against the Russian army. The two leaders, according to this source, also mentioned the mineral agreement.
Earlier Thursday, the Ukrainian Parliament ratified this mineral agreement, signed with the United States after weeks of stormy negotiations and which could, according to kyiv, pave the way for new American military aid. The Ukrainian President considered that this text already opened a “new chapter” in relations between kyiv and Washington.
This document concerns the extraction of minerals, petroleum and gas – 57 types of resources in total in Ukraine, which has been facing the Russian invasion for more than three years. According to deputies, 338 parliamentarians voted in favor of this text, the minimum required being 226. However, it does not include security guarantees for kyiv, which nevertheless insisted on this condition.
Fund for the “reconstruction” of Ukraine
Contrary to what the American president wanted, the document does not want to count Ukraine’s debt to the United States, the American aid granted by his predecessor Joe Biden since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, as the United States.
On the other hand, the text provides that the new American military aid can be recorded as a contribution to a Ukrain-American investment fund. This fund for the “reconstruction” of Ukraine, ravaged by more than three years of war, will be funded and managed equally by both parties. The Ukrainian contribution will be made up of 50 % of the royalties drawn from new licenses issued for the exploitation of natural resources, according to kyiv.
If he was initially impatient in front of Volodymyr Zelensky, the Republican has since had a bit of a tone towards Ukraine. The American president has also also shown signs of frustration towards Vladimir Putin.
