Summary
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he remains “ready to sign” a US-Ukraine minerals deal despite leaving the White House without an agreement following a contentious meeting with Trump.
Speaking in London after a European leaders’ summit, Zelensky emphasized that their fractious meeting only benefited Putin.
Refusing to discuss territorial concessions, he stated the “best security guarantees are a strong Ukrainian army.”
Responding to calls from Senator Graham that he resign, Zelensky quipped he is “exchangeable for NATO” membership, saying this would mean he had “fulfilled my mission.”
I think what is happening is that Ukraine believes that signing the deal will result in a range of outcomes from neutral to positive, depending how and when the US renegs on their side of it. But without the deal the outcomes range from neutral to very negative, so making the deal is the clear right move even if you believe it won’t do anything.