Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky left no room for negotiation when confronted with a controversial minerals-for-security deal brought to him by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Reports from Kyiv indicate that Bessent, sent on behalf of Donald Trump’s administration, faced an intense backlash after presenting an agreement that offered Ukraine long-term security assurances in exchange for control over its valuable natural resources.
However, upon reviewing the details, Zelensky and his aides were outraged to discover that the deal included no genuine security guarantees.
Instead, it heavily favored the U.S., demanding vast amounts of Ukrainian oil, gas, and minerals as compensation for past American aid.
Zelensky’s Fiery Response
The Ukrainian leader did not hold back his frustration.
Lawmakers and officials present at the presidential palace recalled the sheer intensity of his reaction, describing how his voice echoed through the grand hallways as he reprimanded Bessent.
The confrontation left the U.S. official visibly shaken, his voice trembling when addressing the media shortly afterward.
According to sources, Zelensky made it clear that he would not “sell his country” in exchange for empty promises.
The Details of the Rejected Deal
The proposed agreement, reportedly modeled on Zelensky’s own “Victory Plan” from October, was supposed to facilitate economic partnerships with the U.S., EU, and other allies. However, the specifics of the contract unveiled by Bessent were alarming.
The U.S. would have received 50% of Ukraine’s revenue from natural resource extraction and half the financial value of any future licenses granted for resource development.
What made matters worse was the apparent expectation that Ukraine would relinquish $500 billion worth of resources—an amount significantly higher than the actual aid Ukraine has received, which totals around $174.2 billion according to U.S. congressional reports.
A Rift Between Zelensky and Trump
Zelensky’s firm rejection of the deal did not sit well with Trump.
The former U.S. president responded by launching a scathing attack on his Ukrainian counterpart via his Truth Social platform, branding him a “dictator without elections.”
Trump also spread misleading claims about Zelensky’s approval ratings and suggested that Ukraine had manipulated the U.S. into spending $350 billion on a war that could not be won.
Despite these remarks, many of Trump’s claims were swiftly debunked.
A Path to a New Agreement
Despite the initial fallout, efforts to repair diplomatic ties appear to be underway.
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Olha Stefanishyna, announced that negotiations for a revised minerals-for-security agreement were in the final stages.
According to her, discussions with U.S. officials have been constructive, and nearly all major details have been settled.
During a speech marking the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Zelensky confirmed that the original proposal had been scrapped.
He firmly rejected the notion of treating past aid as a debt, stating that Ukraine would not recognize a $500 billion repayment obligation.
The Ukrainian president also reiterated his commitment to his country’s security rather than clinging to power, even going as far as suggesting he would step down if it meant securing Ukraine’s path to NATO membership.
The Future of Ukraine’s Security
Ukraine has long sought NATO membership as a safeguard against future Russian aggression, but Trump’s administration has made it clear that such ambitions may be unrealistic.
Instead, Kyiv is being encouraged to establish separate security agreements with European allies.
As negotiations continue, the world watches to see how Ukraine will navigate these high-stakes discussions while ensuring its sovereignty and security remain uncompromised.