WASHINGTON — President Trump has walked away from a potential minerals deal with Ukraine — and is now suggesting the US take a stake in nuclear power plants in the war-torn country instead.
“We have moved beyond the economic mineral deal,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Post during her press briefing Wednesday, referring to ongoing discussions of a potential cease-fire between Washington, Kyiv and Moscow.
President Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House. REUTERSDuring the most recent conversation, Trump suggested that the US “could be very helpful” in running nuclear plants in Ukraine with “electricity and utility expertise,” Leavitt said, adding that American stakeholding would be best for the vital resources’ “protection.”
The White House has previously said it has particular interest in the fate of the nuclear plant at Zaporizhzhya — the largest in Europe — which is located right on the border of Russian-occupied territory.
“We have moved beyond the economic mineral deal,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Post about the discussions of a potential cease-fire between Washington, Kyiv and Moscow. AP
Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke this morning, the first time since Trump kicked Zelensky out of the White House. APThe plant, which was taken over by Russian forces in March 2022 and has largely been shut down since, has experienced several close calls as a result of subsequent fighting — prompting fears of a nuclear disaster even greater than the meltdown at Chernobyl in 1986.
Trump had touted the mineral deal as a way to provide Ukraine economic security and had been pressuring Zelensky to sign the deal for weeks, sending Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and special envoy Keith Kellogg To Kyiv last month to get the deal across the finish line.
The multi-billion dollar provisional agreement remained on the table even after the Feb. 28 Zelensky-Trump argument in the Oval Office, as administration officials insisted the Ukrainian president had to make amends for the blowup before physically affixing his signature.
Trump had touted the mineral deal as a way to provide Ukraine economic security and had been pressuring Zelensky to sign the deal for weeks. REUTERS
Despite Zelensky and Trump’s clash in the Oval Office in February, the deal remained standing. AFP via Getty ImagesThe multi-billion dollar provisional agreement remained on the table even after the Feb. 28 Zelensky-Trump argument in the Oval Office, as administration officials insisted the Ukrainian president had to make amends for the blowup before physically affixing his signature.
The mineral deal would have established a joint US-Ukraine fund that would have worked to extract key minerals, believed to be worth billions of dollars.
Trump had characterized the deal as a repayment for the billions of aid the US has given Ukraine over the past three years.
The movement towards nuclear power plant ownership comes as the Trump administration is working on getting a full cease-fire between Ukraine and Russia.
Leavitt reiterated that Russia agreed to a cease-fire on “energy and infrastructure” with Ukraine during Trump’s phone call with Putin Tuesday, not just “energy infrastructure” as the Kremlin had claimed.
National security adviser Mike Waltz said he would be heading to Saudi Arabia in the coming days to meet with Russian officials to continue talks.
“The mineral deal was that first set of framework,” Leavitt said. “We are now focused on a long-term peace agreement.”
