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Escalating Tension Between Washington and Moscow Over Ukraine's Future
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Russia's hardline position and its rejection of the ceasefire plan and insistence on Zelensky's resignation reveal increasing complexities in the settlement path and Moscow's adherence to its field ga
The office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's advisor, Serhiy Leshchenko, revealed on Monday that the proposed agreement with the United States regarding the exploitation of rare mineral resources contradicts the conditions for Ukraine's integration into the European Union and its constitution, but indicated it could be accepted after modifications.
These statements come amid a notable escalation in American pressure on Kyiv to conclude an agreement that allows Washington to benefit from Ukrainian mineral wealth.
During a live television interview on "Rada" channel, Leshchenko explained: "The agreement may seem unacceptable to us. The government and the Ministry of Justice are working within its framework, but everything that contradicts the constitution and contradicts European integration can be transformed into a normal project for Ukraine."
The Ukrainian official hinted at the need to consider that the agreement proposed by US President Donald Trump's administration regarding subsurface resources "will remain for a long time," necessitating careful study of its implications.
Trump had previously warned while speaking to journalists aboard the presidential plane that Zelensky would face "big problems" if he backed away from concluding an agreement allowing the United States to exploit Ukrainian minerals.
The American president's threats came in the context of escalating tension, as he criticized both sides of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, expressing his frustration with the continued stalling of efforts to resume ceasefire talks.
Initially, Trump expressed his extreme anger at Russian President Vladimir Putin, threatening to impose new tariffs on Russian oil in response to Putin's questioning of the Ukrainian president's future as a leader.
NBC presenter Kristen Welker explained on "Meet the Press" that Trump warned in a phone conversation with her, saying: "If Russia and I cannot reach an agreement to stop the bloodbath in Ukraine, and if I see that it was Russia's fault, I will impose secondary tariffs on oil coming out of Russia."
While Trump began by criticizing Putin, he quickly softened his tone toward him to pour his anger on Zelensky, warning him of facing problems if he backed away from concluding an agreement giving the United States mining rights in Ukraine.
Since taking office, the US president has sought to achieve a quick end to the war that has been ongoing for more than three years in Ukraine, but his administration has not yet succeeded in achieving a breakthrough.
Putin rejected a joint US-Ukrainian plan for a 30-day ceasefire and suggested on Friday that Zelensky should step down as part of the peace process, reflecting a harder stance in Moscow's negotiating position and angering Kyiv.
Trump told NBC that Putin knows he is angry, while indicating at the same time that "he has a very good relationship with him," explaining that "anger dissipates quickly... if he does the right thing."
Improved relations between Washington and Moscow since Trump took office, and his threat to stop supporting Kyiv, have strengthened Russia's position on the battlefield as it continues its faltering invasion of Ukraine.
Kyiv accuses Moscow of prolonging talks without a genuine intention to stop the war, especially as it launched a new attack over the weekend on the city of Kharkiv, located on the northeastern border.
Ukrainian areas were targeted by six strikes Saturday night into Sunday, resulting in one person being injured while being treated at a military hospital and at least two people killed in a residential building, according to Ukrainian officials.
Moscow announced on Sunday that its forces had taken control of a village just seven kilometers from the border of the Dnipropetrovsk region in central Ukraine, as part of its recent advance, noting that Russian forces had not crossed the borders of this region since the beginning of its attack in 2022.
