Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said his team was working with US counterparts to coordinate with Donald Trump’s administration, after the US president suggested earlier on Friday he would be willing to meet.
In a post to Telegram, Zelensky said that he valued cooperation with Trump and that Ukrainian and American teams are working out details. Separately, Zelensky said in an interview that he was willing to make a deal to secure more US backing in exchange for some of Ukraine’s rare earths and other minerals.
Trump, meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday, was asked by a reporter if he would help coordinate a meeting between Zelensky and US Vice-President J.D. Vance, who is travelling to Europe for summits in Paris and Munich next week.
Trump seemed to mishear the question, and responded by saying that he himself “will probably be meeting with President Zelensky next week”.
“One of the things we’re looking at with President Zelensky is having the security of their assets,” he continued. “They have assets underground, rare earth and other things but primarily rare earth.”
Good thing the Art of the Deal shlemiel is in charge of the thing now, nein?