NEW YORK, February 20. /TASS/. The US is frustrated with the pushback it is getting from Ukraine about the minerals deal, US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said.
"Why we are getting this pushback and certainly this kind of, as the vice president said, badmouthing in the press for all the administration has done in his [Donald Trump’s] first term as well and all the United States has done for Ukraine - it is just unacceptable. They need to tone it down and take a hard look and sign that deal," he said.
"Vice president Vance was very frustrated leaving the Munich Security Conference. Our secretary of treasury who traveled all the way to Kiev is also frustrated. All on top of the president, obviously, who makes his frustration well known," the official said. "That’s because we presented the Ukrainians really an incredible and historic opportunity to have the United States of America co-invest with Ukraine."
The Washington Post previously reported, citing sources, that Kiev rejected the US administration's plan to provide assistance to Ukraine in exchange for granting Washington rights to 50% of rare-earth minerals. Kiev is currently working on a counterproposal. According to WP, Ukraine received the proposed US mineral deal on February 12, just four hours before US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Vladimir Zelensky in Kiev. The secretary reportedly insisted that Zelensky sign the agreement immediately, but he did not.
In early February, US President Donald Trump said America is interested in obtaining rare-earth metals from Ukraine. Zelensky later said that large deposits of minerals and rare-earth metals being offered to Washington are located in areas outside of Kiev's control. In an interview with Reuters, Zelensky said he was ready to offer Trump Ukrainian minerals and underground gas storage sites in exchange for security guarantees.