President Trump alleges that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent received a poor reception during his recent trip to Kyiv for minerals negotiations.
President Trump criticized the Ukrainian government for its treatment of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during his visit to Kyiv last week. Trump stated that President Zelensky chose to sleep instead of meeting with Bessent to finalize a minerals deal. He told reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday that Zelensky was asleep and unavailable, adding that Bessent’s long and dangerous train journey proved fruitless as the Ukrainians rejected the deal.
Bessent and Zelensky did meet in person on February 12th. This was Bessent’s first visit to Kyiv as a senior official in the Trump administration.
The proposed agreement would have granted the US preferential access to Ukrainian natural resources, which Trump views as essential compensation for years of US support. He considers the rejection a breach of trust, stating the Ukrainians broke the deal.
Zelensky initially suggested a minerals agreement with the US as part of a ‘victory plan’ presented to Presidents Biden and Trump before the November election. Senator Lindsey Graham reportedly urged Kyiv to include the proposal to appeal to Trump’s ‘America First’ policy.
Zelensky stated he refused to sign Bessent’s proposal due to a lack of security guarantees and its perceived detriment to Ukraine’s interests. Reuters reported on Thursday that Kyiv is open to signing a revised, less demanding version.
Trump expressed his desire to resurrect the deal on Wednesday. Reuters sources suggest Washington is considering a streamlined treaty for quick agreement, with detailed negotiations to follow. These sources indicate Trump wants an agreement to show the American public before authorizing further military aid.
According to Reuters, Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, is discussing the parameters of a potential agreement during his current visit. A US presidential advisor, referring to Zelensky, stated that “we need to get this guy back to reality,” while confirming Washington’s interest in the raw materials.
US and Russian officials held what both sides called productive talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday aimed at improving relations. In contrast, tensions between Trump and Zelensky are rising. Trump this week called Zelensky a “dictator without an election,” warning him to act quickly or risk losing his country. Zelensky accused Trump of repeating “Russian disinformation.”