Key takeaways:

• Donald Trump escalates criticism of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy as U.S. and Ukraine approach a rare earth mineral deal.
• A White House official expresses confidence that Zelenskyy will ultimately agree to the deal.
• The discussions have emerged following a series of contentious exchanges between Trump and Zelenskyy regarding their respective leaderships during the war.

President Donald Trump has ramped up his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, asserting that his handling of the ongoing war with Russia has been ineffective. This comes as both the U.S. and Ukraine draw closer to a proposed deal that would grant the U.S. access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals, a significant move in strengthening bilateral ties amid tumultuous geopolitics. Al Jazeera reported that Trump has labeled Zelenskyy a “dictator without elections,” echoing Russian disinformation narratives, while Zelenskyy has pushed back, asserting he enjoys substantial popular support despite being under martial law.

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has stated confidence that Zelenskyy will eventually detach from his previous reluctance and sign the deal. Waltz commented at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), saying, “President Zelenskyy is going to sign that deal.” This sentiment follows a series of meetings held by Trump’s special envoy, Keith Kellogg, who spent three days in Ukraine negotiating terms that would involve significant access to the nation’s rare earth minerals, crucial for various high-tech industries. A report from HuffPost indicated considerable progress between U.S. and Ukrainian teams during these discussions.

Amid accusations of wasting time during negotiations, Trump has criticized Zelenskyy’s effectiveness in steering Ukraine toward peace with Russia. When asked about Russia's invasion, Trump remarked, “This war is terrible. It wouldn’t ever have happened if I were president. But it did happen.” His remarks came at a gathering of governors, where Trump's stance suggested a preference for negotiating with Russia over collaborating with Ukraine. According to VOA News, the discussions now aim to solidify a long-term U.S.-Ukrainian relationship through a formal agreement regarding mineral access.

Key players across the Atlantic have been noticeably concerned about the emerging U.S. policy shift regarding Ukraine. European leaders have expressed unease with Trump’s remarks, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other European officials pledging continued support to Zelenskyy as they reiterated that decisions regarding Ukraine's future should not be made without Ukrainian involvement.

During the recent negotiations, Zelenskyy has participated in extensive talks despite the White House's initial push for the agreement, which he previously rejected due to a lack of security guarantees. Zelenskyy has characterized the ongoing negotiations as important, stating, “Today, Ukrainian and U.S. teams are working on a draft agreement between our governments. This agreement can add value to our relations.” His optimism seems intact despite the tumult of recent exchanges with Trump, with ABC News noting that much of the tension arises from Trump's frequent reframing of the war's blame towards Ukraine.

The situation continues to unfold as both nations work towards solidifying a more structured relationship while addressing the pressing need for a resolution to the ongoing conflict.