WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump expressed on Monday his intention to negotiate an agreement with Ukraine that would allow the United States access to its rare earth materials. This move appears to be tied to the ongoing U.S. assistance to Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia.

During a press briefing in the Oval Office, Trump voiced concerns over the level of military and economic support the U.S. has provided, noting that it surpasses that of European allies. He remarked, “We’re looking to do a deal with Ukraine where they’re going to secure what we’re giving them with their rare earth and other things.”

Trump suggested he has received signals from Ukrainian officials indicating their willingness to engage in a deal that would permit the U.S. to access crucial elements for the high-tech sector. “I want to have security of rare earth,” he remarked, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the resources linked to the hundreds of billions invested.

The President, who had previously indicated a desire to rapidly resolve the ongoing conflict, also noted that discussions aimed at finding a resolution are continuing. “We made a lot of progress on Russia, Ukraine. We’ll see what happens. We’re going to stop that ridiculous war,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserted on Saturday that negotiations conducted between the U.S. and Russia without Ukrainian involvement would be unacceptable. “They may have their own relations, but talking about Ukraine without us — it is dangerous for everyone,” he warned.

Zelenskyy confirmed that his team has been in touch with the Trump administration, but he characterized these discussions as “general” and expressed his belief that face-to-face meetings would soon occur to focus on crafting more specific agreements. “We need to work more on this,” he concluded.