Ukraine pres arrives in US; Trump retracts Zelensky 'dictator' remark
4 Min Read
After calling the Ukrainian leader a "dictator without elections" on February 19, Trump says he has "a lot of respect" for Zelensky.
-
President Donald Trump stands before British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrives at the White House, on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in the United States on Thursday ahead of talks with US President Donald Trump on an agreement to develop minerals and rare earths, Interfax Ukraine news agency reported, quoting flight data.
The visit is scheduled to witness the signing of an agreement on minerals and rare earth elements in Ukraine, which Trump demanded in order to continue providing American military aid to Kiev after three years of war.
This agreement, which Trump considers a form of compensation for the billions his country has provided to Ukraine, would give the United States a share in the mineral wealth that abounds in Ukraine.
Earlier, Trump expressed disbelief at having referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a "dictator".
During a briefing with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House, Trump was asked whether he still considered Zelensky a dictator. "Did I say that? I can't believe I would say that," he responded.
"I have a lot of respect for him," Trump said of Zelensky on Thursday. "We're going to get along really well."
Trump had previously described Zelensky as a "dictator without elections" in a Truth Social post on February 19, accusing him of refusing to hold elections and echoing Kremlin narratives questioning his legitimacy.
Under Ukraine’s constitution, elections cannot be held during martial law, which has been in effect since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022. Had martial law not been imposed, Zelensky’s term would have ended on May 20, 2024.
Regarding the durability of a potential peace agreement with Russia, Trump expressed confidence that any deal brokered by his administration would hold.
"I have confidence if we make a deal it's going to hold," he said, adding that ensuring Ukraine’s long-term stability after an agreement is reached would be "the easy part."
Trump’s approach has marked a sharp departure from longstanding US foreign policy toward Russia. High-level diplomatic engagements between American and Russian officials have resumed, with meetings taking place in Riyadh on February 18 and Istanbul on February 27.
Trump also dismissed concerns that Russian President Vladimir Putin might launch another offensive against Ukraine after a peace deal is reached.
When asked on February 24 whether he considers Putin a "dictator", the US President avoided a direct answer, stating, "I don't use those words lightly... I think we're going to see how it all works out."
Trump’s "dictator" remark came after Zelensky’s initial rejection of a deal granting Washington preferential access to Ukraine’s natural resources, including oil, gas, and rare earth metals.
Zelensky initially demanded US security guarantees as part of any agreement, but Trump refused to offer any commitments.
Trump maintained that the deal was essential for Washington to recover the billions of dollars it has provided to Ukraine in military and other aid. Ultimately, Zelensky relented and agreed to visit the White House to sign the agreement.
The deal grants the United States a stake in much of Ukraine's mineral wealth.
"We'll be dig, dig, digging" for Ukraine's resources, Trump told reporters on Thursday.
Few details about the minerals deal have been disclosed. Zelensky told reporters this week that it would serve as a framework for broader agreements.
Read more: Trump rules out Ukraine joining NATO, calls ties with Zelensky 'testy'
