British PM plans talks on US and Ukraine
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed he will host leaders of Italy, Germany, Poland and other allies on Sunday to discuss their response to Trump’s push for peace in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also expected to attend.
The Trump administration is stepping back from supporting Ukraine. The US president said the responsibility to ensure long-term security for the country lies within Europe.
Sunday’s meeting will come shortly after Starmer returns from his visit to the White House on Thursday.
The British leader flew to Washington after announcing an increase in the defense budget in the hope to maintain close ties between the two nations.
Behind-the-scenes talks on mineral deal will continue, Ukrainian economist says
US President Donald Trump announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would visit Washington on Friday to sign an agreement on rare earths and other critical minerals. However, Trump also said the United States would not provide security guarantees to Ukraine and that it was up to Europe to protect Ukraine’s security.
Tymofiy Mylovanov, former Ukrainian minister of economic development and current president of the Kyiv School of Economics, told DW that the entire deal is to be developed and the bargaining behind the doors will continue.
“What we have seen in the last week or two is that the public posturing and political theater on both sides and specifically by the Trump administration has been decoupled by what is actually in the deal,” Mylovanov said.
He said Trump points out that the deal will pay back the hundreds of billions of dollars that have been given to Ukraine in support, while Zelensky has said several times that it’s a red line for him.
“So they continue to give different public statements to different relative audiences, their domestic audiences, while in the deal there is nothing about this $500 billion paying back and so on forth,” Mylovanov said. “The disagreements are clear. The ability to compromise is also clear, but it’s not going to be an easy walk.
“I would have liked to live in a different world in which the US doesn’t try to disengage from being a military supporter of Europe and Ukraine. But we are not in that world. So to keep a relationship with the US, to have some language and some support that is already a win,” Mylovanov said.
Zelenskyy stresses ‘security guarantees’ ahead of US visit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reiterated that security guarantees are crucial ahead of talks with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Friday on a natural resources deal.
“The agreement with America. Support for our state and people. Guarantees of peace and security — this is the key to ensuring that Russia will no longer destroy the lives of other nations,” Zelenskyy said in his evening video address.
“For me, and for all of us in the world, it is crucial that America’s assistance is not stopped. Strength is essential on the path to peace,” he added.
The Ukrainian leader’s video was released shortly after Trump confirmed that Zelenskiy would visit Washington on Friday to sign the deal on rare earths and other issues, but suggested that the United States would not provide extensive security guarantees.
Source : https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-updates-no-security-guarantee-from-us-for-minerals/live-71753120
