Last week, Mr Trump accused Mr Zelensky of being a “dictator” for postponing elections after Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022 and of ignoring peace attempts in order to keep the “gravy train” of US money rolling.
The potentially $1 trillion (£791bn) deal will allow US taxpayers to “get their money back” for three years of supplying weapons against Russia, President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday at the Oval Office.
In exchange for ongoing military assistance, Ukraine is reportedly about to sign an agreement that would grant the US access to its rare earth minerals and other natural resources.
President Trump appears to have his eye on these rare earth elements as he called the pact with Ukraine a “deal on rare earths” on Tuesday.
The development coincides with Ukraine's efforts to mend fences with the Trump administration, which has been strained by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s exclusion from war-ending talks with Moscow.
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