Zelensky urges swift and careful work on US agreements regarding rare earths and security guarantees

President Volodymyr Zelensky called for quick and thoughtful work on agreements with the United States. In particular, these are agreements on rare earth metals and security guarantees for Ukraine.

The head of state reported this in a night video address.

The President noted that his meeting with US President Donald Trump's special representative, Keith Kellogg, "restores hope" and added that Ukraine "needs strong agreements with America that will really work".

In the meeting context, Zelensky instructed the team to "quickly and very, very thoughtfully" work on agreements with the US. According to him, "economy and security should always go hand in hand, and the details of the agreements matter: the better the details are spelled out, the greater the result."

"We discussed with General Kellogg the front, the need to release all our prisoners held in Russia, and the need for a reliable and clear system of security guarantees so that war does not return and the Russians do not ruin lives.

We all need peace: Ukraine, Europe, America, everyone in the world," Zelensky said.

According to Axios, the Donald Trump administration handed Ukraine a new version of the agreement on rare earth metals and other minerals after President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the initial proposal.

As the publication notes, Ukrainian and American officials, as well as three informed sources, confirmed this information.

Sources from both parties indicate that the latest version of the agreement is increasingly likely to be finalized. One insider highlighted that the revised draft includes "significant improvements" and is "in accordance with Ukrainian legislation."

Another source said that some points that concerned Ukraine were removed, including the fact that the deal would be subject to the jurisdiction of a New York court.

According to Axios, several aides to Zelensky have encouraged him to sign the updated proposal in order to prevent further conflict with Trump and to justify ongoing US support for Ukraine.

"The latest draft has been significantly improved and complies with Ukrainian law," the source said.

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Earlier, US President Donald Trump stated that he wanted to finalize an agreement with Kyiv in which Ukraine would supply the United States with rare earth minerals needed for electronics in exchange for American aid.

In response, Zelensky stated that Ukraine was prepared to reach an agreement with the United States on supplying rare earth resources. However, he emphasized that he did not intend to "give away" these resources, instead proposing a mutually beneficial partnership.

The head of state also mentioned that Ukraine was open to American investment in extracting its rare earth minerals in exchange for US assistance. He noted that he had already discussed this with US President Donald Trump in September 2024 and included it as a key point in his Victory Plan.

On February 15, reports emerged that the Trump Administration proposed Ukraine transfer 50% ownership of its rare earth minerals to the United States. However, President Volodymyr Zelensky declined to sign the proposed agreement.

As the Ukrainian leader recently noted, the agreement on rare earth metals did not indicate any security guarantees for Ukraine.

It is noteworthy that Rubryka has discussed Ukraine's rare earth elements, lithium reserves, and other mineral resources, highlighting their significance and why they have gained attention during the war.

It is worth mentioning, General Kellogg planned to visit Ukraine in early January 2025 for his "European tour." This tour includes attending the Munich Security Conference and engaging in negotiations with NATO and EU countries. Although his visit was initially announced before Donald Trump assumed the US presidency, it was postponed due to legal factors.

It should be noted that Keith Kellogg already visited Ukraine in 2023, but as a private person. During his first visit, he visited Kharkiv and other cities affected by the war.

The purpose of Kellogg's trip to Europe and his visit to Ukraine was called by the US State Department to advance President Trump's goal of ending the Russian-Ukrainian war and ensuring "peace through force."

"Special Presidential Envoy Kellogg is committed to conducting the tough diplomacy that will be needed to achieve the US President's goal," the publication on the department's website states.

In Ukraine, Keith Kellogg is to meet with government officials and citizens who have courageously endured almost three years of war, the State Department explained.

Trump's special representative noted that during his visit to Kyiv he will rely on the talks between US Vice President J.D. Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which took place on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. Kellogg called these talks "constructive."

Even during Donald Trump's election campaign, Keith Kellogg became known as the author of the "peace plan" of the future White House administration to end the war in Ukraine. This plan included freezing the conflict on the front line, possibly postponing Ukraine's accession to NATO, etc.

After his official appointment as the US President's special representative for Ukraine and Russia, Kellogg stated that he was ready to work to ensure peace through force, defending the interests of the US. 

He also expressed the opinion that both sides would have to make concessions to end the war. He allowed elections in Ukraine to be held by the end of 2025 and did not rule out tightening sanctions against the Russian Federation in case of refusal to negotiate.

On February 20, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky met with Kellogg.

Head of State Volodymyr Zelensky called the meeting with US President's Special Envoy Keith Kellogg a "good conversation." During the meeting, they discussed the situation on the front, security guarantees for Ukraine, and the agreement on rare earth minerals.