UkraineB次元官网网址檚 leader will meet with President in Washington on Friday at a pivotal moment for his country, one that hinges on whether he can persuade Trump to provide some form of U.S. backing for UkraineB次元官网网址檚 security against any future Russian aggression.

During his trip to Washington, President Volodymyr ZelenskyyB次元官网网址檚 delegation is a landmark economic agreement with the U.S. aimed at financing the reconstruction of war-damaged , a deal that would closely tie the two countries together for years to come.

Though the deal, which is seen as a step toward ending the , references the importance of , it leaves that to a separate agreement to be discussed between the two leaders B次元官网网址� talks that are likely to commence Friday.

As Ukrainian forces hold out against by RussiaB次元官网网址檚 larger and better-equipped army, leaders in Kyiv have pushed to ensure a potential U.S.-brokered peace plan would include guarantees for the countryB次元官网网址檚 future security.

Many Ukrainians fear that a hastily negotiated peace B次元官网网址� especially one that makes too many concessions to B次元官网网址� would allow Moscow to rearm and consolidate its forces for a future invasion after current hostilities cease.

According to the , seen by The Associated Press, the U.S. and Ukraine will establish a co-owned, jointly managed investment fund to which Ukraine will contribute 50% of future revenues from natural resources, including minerals, hydrocarbons and other extractable materials.

A more detailed agreement on establishing the fund will be drawn up once the preliminary one is signed.

Trump, a Republican, has framed the emerging deal as a chance for Kyiv to compensate the U.S. for wartime aid sent under his predecessor, President Joe Biden, a Democrat.

But Zelenskyy has remained firm that specific assurances for UkraineB次元官网网址檚 security must accompany any agreement giving U.S. access to UkraineB次元官网网址檚 resources. On Wednesday, he said the agreement B次元官网网址渕ay be part of future security guarantees, but I want to understand the broader vision. What awaits Ukraine?B次元官网网址�

Trump remains noncommittal about any American security guarantees.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not going to make security guarantees B次元官网网址� very much,B次元官网网址� Trump told reporters this week. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to have Europe do that.B次元官网网址�

If a truce can be reached, British Prime Minister and French President Emmanuel have agreed to send troops for to Ukraine to ensure that fighting between Ukraine and Russia doesnB次元官网网址檛 flare up again. Both leaders traveled to Washington this week before the Zelenskyy visit to discuss with Trump the potential peacekeeping mission and other concerns about the war.

White House officials are skeptical that Britain and France can assemble enough troops from across Europe, at least at this moment, to deploy a credible peacekeeping mission to Kyiv.

It will likely take a B次元官网网址渃onsensual peace settlementB次元官网网址� between Russia and Ukraine before many nations would be willing to provide such forces, according to a senior Trump administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House.

Zelenskyy and European officials have no illusions about U.S. troops taking part in such a mission. But Starmer and others are trying to make the case that the plan can only work with a U.S. backstop for European forces on the ground B次元官网网址� through U.S. aerial intelligence, surveillance and support, as well as rapid-response cover in case the truce is breached.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e created a moment of tremendous opportunity to reach a historic peace deal B次元官网网址� a deal that I think would be celebrated in Ukraine and around the world,B次元官网网址� Starmer told Trump. B次元官网网址淭hat is the prize. But we have to get it right.B次元官网网址�

Zelenskyy has been vague on exactly what kinds of security guarantees would be suitable for his country, and while he continues to advocate for UkraineB次元官网网址檚 eventual membership in , he has also suggested a similar security arrangement would suffice.

But Trump on Wednesday said Ukraine B次元官网网址渃ould forget aboutB次元官网网址� joining the Western military alliance.

Still, ZelenskyyB次元官网网址檚 meeting with Trump, their first since the U.S. leaderB次元官网网址檚 inauguration in January, is seen in Kyiv as a diplomatic win for Ukraine. On Wednesday, Zelenskyy said being able to meet personally with Trump before Russian President Vladimir Putin does B次元官网网址渋s a good signal.B次元官网网址�

Zelenskyy said he hopes to discuss whether the U.S. plans to halt its military aid to Ukraine and, if so, whether Kyiv would be able to purchase weapons directly from the U.S.

He also wants to know whether Ukraine can use frozen Russian assets for the purchase of weapons and whether Washington plans to lift sanctions on Moscow.

Fears that Trump could broker a peace deal with Russia that is unfavorable to Ukraine have been amplified by recent by his administration. Trump held a lengthy , and U.S. officials met with their Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia without inviting European or Ukrainian leaders B次元官网网址� both dramatic breaks with previous U.S. policy to isolate Putin over his invasion.

Trump later seemed to for starting the war, and called Zelenskyy a B次元官网网址渄ictatorB次元官网网址� for not holding elections after the end of his regular term last year, though Ukrainian law prohibits elections while martial law is in place.

As Zelenskyy seeks to lower the temperature with the U.S. while in Washington, American officials are saying the economic deal, if implemented, would itself provide a measure of security to Ukraine through the presence of U.S. investments on its territory.

On Wednesday, Trump said the U.S. working on mineral extraction in Ukraine would amount to B次元官网网址渁utomatic security because nobodyB次元官网网址檚 going to be messing around with our people when weB次元官网网址檙e there.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a great deal for Ukraine too, because they get us over there and weB次元官网网址檙e going to be working over there,B次元官网网址� Trump said. B次元官网网址淲e will be on the land.B次元官网网址�

That perspective is echoed by the text of the economic agreement, which says the U.S. B次元官网网址渟upports UkraineB次元官网网址檚 efforts to obtain security guarantees needed to establish lasting peace.B次元官网网址�

Washington, it continues, has B次元官网网址渁 long-term financial commitment to the development of a stable and economically prosperous Ukraine.B次元官网网址�