Zelenskyy wants to meet Trump in person to discuss minerals deal, media reports

This was reported by Radio NV, citing sources in the Ukrainian government.

According to the publication, Ukraine has submitted new proposals for the minerals deal to Trump’s special representative, Keith Kellogg, who is currently heading to Washington for a scheduled meeting with Trump.

Radio NV sources noted that the Ukrainian side has proposed reducing the size of the future fund, which is set to receive revenues from mineral extraction in Ukrainian-controlled territories, to $100 billion. Previously, the US had suggested setting the fund at $500 billion.

Additionally, the Ukrainian government has conveyed its request for a personal meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump in Washington next week to continue discussions on the deal's terms.

The new proposals also include revenues not just from minerals but from ports, as well as oil and gas.

"The main reason for Kellogg's visit to Kyiv was this agreement. Trump told him, 'You have one task – an agreement,' so they worked on it for all three days Kellogg was in Kyiv," a source said.

He added that Zelenskyy was uncertain about signing the agreement and consulted with his team. He held a meeting with department heads specifically to discuss the deal.

"It [the meeting] was emotional. The president and the head of the HUR, Kyrylo Budanov, even had a brief argument over the deal because they had different views on certain aspects. But in the end, the president is inclined to sign it in a revised form," the source added.

• Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that negotiations between the US and Ukraine on a mineral extraction agreement are nearing completion.