Fact check: As of Mar 1, Zelensky just said he’s ready to sign minerals deal with President Donald Trump.

1. Summary of the results

The statement is inaccurate. Not only was no minerals deal signed, but a meeting between Trump and Zelensky on February 28, 2025, ended dramatically with Trump abruptly calling off the public portion and Zelensky leaving the White House without any agreement ^{[1] [2]}. While Zelensky has expressed willingness to sign a minerals deal in principle, he maintains that the current framework is insufficient without broader security guarantees ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement omits several crucial details:

• The proposed deal would involve Ukraine contributing 50% of future revenues from natural resources to a jointly managed Reconstruction Investment Fund ^{[4] [5]}
• Zelensky has publicly rejected US rare earths demands in their current form ^[6]
• The deal is viewed by Ukraine as a "framework" rather than a completed agreement ^[5]
• Previous versions of the agreement were rejected by Zelensky due to insufficient security guarantees ^[4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The statement presents a misleading simplification of a complex diplomatic situation:

• It fails to mention the contentious nature of the recent White House meeting ^[2]
• It omits Trump's public criticism of Zelensky on Truth Social, where he claimed Zelensky "is not ready for Peace" ^[1]
• The statement suggests a straightforward willingness to sign, when in reality Zelensky's position is more nuanced, demanding additional security guarantees ^[3]

The framing benefits:

• Trump supporters who might view this as a diplomatic success
• Resource industry stakeholders who stand to benefit from access to Ukrainian minerals
• Russian interests who benefit from highlighting tensions between Ukraine and its allies