The minerals deal will serve as a security backstop to any peacekeeping force in Ukraine, Trump said during his meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump hosted UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House on Feb. 27 to discuss the ongoing efforts to end the Russia–Ukraine war. Both leaders also discussed reviving bilateral trade agreement talks, which had stalled in 2021 during the Biden administration.
With Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy scheduled to visit the White House on Feb. 28, Trump and Starmer’s conversation centered around what role the nations will play during the peace negotiations and in the aftermath of a potential peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
“I think we’ll have a deal on ending the war, and I think we’re going to end up with a great trade deal,” Trump said in concluding remarks at the press conference.
During his meeting with Starmer, Trump confirmed that he would be signing an agreement with Ukraine on Feb. 28 that would allow the United States access to the Eastern European country’s rare earth minerals.
“By our being in Ukraine and doing the exploration, the digging, and the taking of the rare earth, which we need in our country very badly, we’ll be doing a substantial amount of work,” Trump said at the press conference. “It’s like a huge economic development project, so it will be good for both countries.”
While the deal could provide a financial boost to Ukraine as it fends off Russia’s invasion, Trump has indicated that despite Kiev’s requests, there would be no security guarantees.
Trump also said that Ukraine would not be granted NATO membership when negotiating the terms of a peace agreement with Russia. However, he said that the United States and European Union would “certainly try and get” back as much as possible of the land captured by Russia.
The UK and other European nations have urged the United States to act as a security backstop for any agreement to encourage Russia to honor the terms of a potential peace deal.
By Emel Akan and Travis Gillmore
