U.S. President Donald Trump hinted on Monday that a deal to open up Ukraine's minerals to U.S. investment could still be agreed despite his frustration with Kyiv, as European leaders floated proposals for a truce in Russia's war with its neighbor, APA reports citing Reuters.
The Trump administration views such a deal as America's way of earning back some of the tens of billions of dollars it has given to Ukraine in financial and military aid since Russia invaded three years ago.
On Monday he again said Zelenskiy should be more appreciative of U.S. support after earlier responding angrily to an Associated Press report quoting Zelenskiy as saying the end of the war is "very, very far away."
"This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!" Trump wrote on Truth Social, using an alternative spelling of the Ukrainian leader's name.
European leaders are processing what some describe as Washington's biggest policy reversal since World War Two, after Zelenskiy left the White House abruptly on Friday after a public dressing-down by Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Zelenskiy departed Washington without signing the minerals deal.
"What we need to hear from President Zelenskiy is that he has regret for what happened, he's ready to sign this minerals deal and that he's ready to engage in peace talks," White House national security adviser Mike Waltz told Fox News.
"We'll see what happens in the next 48 hours, but we are certainly looking to move forward in a positive way."
Some Republicans have pushed to revive the deal.
Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the U.S. House of Representatives' Ukraine caucus, said on X that he had spoken to Zelenskiy's chief of staff and that the minerals deal was to be "signed in short order."
"We are 100% getting this train back on the tracks," the Pennsylvania Republican said.
Senate Republican leader John Thune also said he hoped the two sides could get "back on track."
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