Trumps multi-billion-dollar rare earth deal with Zelensky close after envoys wrap Ukraine talks

KYIV — An agreement that would give the US rights to rare earth minerals in Ukraine believed to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars was almost sealed Friday night — but had not been finalized by the time President Trump’s special envoy concluded his three-day visit to the war-torn country, sources familiar with negotiations confirmed to The Post.Retired Gen.Keith Kellogg, 80, believed to be one of the few Trump administration officials still sympathetic to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, began his two-day trip back to the US without confirming a deal that the White House has pushed hard for — but which high-level officials in Zelensky’s government view as a shakedown.“Any deal that can be made has to be mutually beneficial,” a spokesperson for the Ukrainian president’s office insisted to The Post.At the White House, however, Trump was confident that an understanding would be reached.“We’re signing an agreement, hopefully in the next fairly short period of time, that will assure us that we’ll get $400 or $500 billion back,” the president said, adding erroneously that “we’re in there for $300 billion.”“It’s a big deal, but they want it, and it keeps us in that country, and they’re very happy about it,” Trump added later.

“We get our money back.This should have been signed long before we went in.

It should have been signed by [former President Joe] Biden.”Hours earlier, Kellogg had broken from the rest of the administration in lauding Zelensky.“A long and intense day with the senior leadership of Ukraine,” Kellogg wrote on his personal X account following a round of meetings Thursday.“Extensive and positive discussions with @ZelenskyyUa, the embattled and courageous leader of a nation at war and his talented national security team.”Kellogg was the last White House official publicly scheduled to meet in person with the Ukrainian leader for the foreseeable future, after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent fai...