Senior Republican leaders are working to salvage a minerals-rights deal with Ukraine after a contentious White House meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy raised concerns about the future of US-Ukraine relations.
Congressional Republicans sought to ease tensions following Friday's Oval Office clash, which sent shockwaves through Washington and Europe. Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed optimism that the US and Ukraine could still reach an agreement.
“I just hope they can get things back on track and that everyone redoubles their efforts,” Thune told reporters. "This is a historic opportunity, and last week was a missed one. But if both sides act in good faith, we could still reach a deal."
Contentious White House Meeting Stalls Agreement
The Friday meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy, and Vice President JD Vance reportedly turned tense after the US side accused Zelenskyy of not showing enough gratitude for American support and overplaying his diplomatic position. The dispute led to the cancellation of a planned press conference, and no agreement was signed regarding profit-sharing from Ukraine's rare earth minerals.
The disagreement has put Republican defense hawks—who have supported Ukraine against Russia’s invasion—in a difficult position. Some worry that Trump’s push for peace talks could result in terms that favor Moscow, while his criticism of Zelenskyy has caused further divisions within the party.
The Ukraine issue is expected to feature in Trump’s speech to Congress on Tuesday, marking his first address in his second term.
Republican Lawmakers Seek to Revive Talks
Several MAGA-aligned lawmakers quickly backed Trump after the meeting, with some even calling for the US to leave NATO. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a long-time supporter of Ukraine, initially suggested Zelenskyy should apologize or even step down.
However, by Monday, Graham took a softer stance, encouraging Zelenskyy to focus on reaching a minerals agreement with Trump. “I’ve told President Zelenskyy: Do the minerals deal, secure an arms package, and then we can talk about an end to the war,” Graham told reporters.
Speaker Mike Johnson also defended Trump but urged Zelenskyy to accept the proposed deal.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), a member of the House Intelligence Committee, indicated that negotiations were back on track. “This minerals deal will be signed soon, leading to a strong economic partnership between the US and Ukraine, and eventually to security assistance,” Fitzpatrick posted on X.
Photo: @RepBrianFitz on X
Ukraine Signals Willingness to Move Forward
Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, confirmed talks were progressing. "There is mutual understanding, and we are moving toward a decision for our leaders to make," he wrote on X.
Photo: @AndryYermak on X
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a vocal supporter of Ukraine, remained optimistic about finalizing the minerals agreement but cautioned against any deal that might appear as a victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I do believe there’s an opportunity here,” Tillis told reporters. “But we cannot make any deal with Ukraine look like a win for Putin.”
With diplomatic and economic stakes high, Republican leaders appear committed to reviving the agreement, despite the recent fallout between Trump and Zelenskyy.
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