Ceasefire Talks Without Ukraine... "Trump and Putin Did Not Attend the Meeting"

Zelensky: "Will Not Meet Either Americans or Russians"
Trump's Demand for 50% of Rare Earths Also Rejected

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have announced that they will soon hold talks in Saudi Arabia to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also announced plans to visit Saudi Arabia. President Trump stated that President Zelensky would also attend the peace talks, but Zelensky drew a line by saying he would not participate, signaling a tense standoff surrounding the Ukraine peace negotiations.

Zelensky to Visit Saudi Arabia Soon... "Will Not Meet Americans or Russians"

On the 13th (local time), a Matryoshka doll featuring portraits of U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was on sale at a store in downtown Moscow. Photo by AFP and Yonhap News.

According to the Kyiv Independent, a Ukrainian local media outlet, on the 16th (local time), President Zelensky said, "I plan to officially visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and T?rkiye soon, but I have no plans to meet with Russian or American delegations in these countries."

Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko also stated at a press briefing that day, "President Zelensky is preparing to visit Saudi Arabia and will seek various forms of economic cooperation with Middle Eastern countries," adding, "We will cooperate with Saudi Arabia in major infrastructure projects, energy, and agriculture sectors."

Earlier, President Trump hinted that Presidents Putin and Zelensky would meet together for the Ukraine peace talks, but this was immediately denied. At a press conference held at Palm Beach International Airport in Florida that day, President Trump said, "Both President Putin and President Zelensky want to stop the fighting," and "President Zelensky will be involved in talks for peace."

As President Trump, who desires a swift ceasefire, is expected to accept most of the ceasefire conditions demanded by Russia, the Ukrainian side appears to be showing resistance. According to European media outlet Euractiv on the 15th, Keith Kellogg, the Trump administration's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, emphasized, "European countries will not participate in the peace talks," and "President Trump's strategy is not for prolonged talks but to reach an agreement within days or weeks."

There is also an interpretation that the Trump administration aims to conclude the Ukraine peace negotiations by April at the latest. Bloomberg News reported that, citing sources, "The Trump administration has conveyed to European officials its desire to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine by Easter, April 20."

Trump's Demand for 50% Ownership of Rare Earths Also Rejected... "No Security Guarantees Included"

The Ukrainian government is also reported to have rejected President Trump's proposal to transfer ownership of rare earth minerals in exchange for U.S. security guarantees. Contrary to initial expectations, the Trump administration did not promise new military support but demanded ownership of rare earth minerals as repayment for past assistance, which provoked opposition.

According to the UK's Financial Times (FT), the Trump administration recently proposed a mineral agreement to Ukraine demanding 50% ownership of rare earth minerals as compensation for past military support. They requested this as payment for previous military aid, not additional support.

FT reported, "U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent presented this mineral agreement to President Zelensky during a meeting in Kyiv on the 12th," adding, "The document delivered by Secretary Bessent only mentions securing Ukrainian resources as compensation for past military support and does not include provisions for future aid." The U.S. government believes that simply securing mineral deposits would be sufficient to counter Russia, according to FT.

With the rare earth mineral ownership transfer negotiations, which Ukraine viewed as leverage to obtain U.S. military support, effectively falling through, the controversy surrounding peace talks between the U.S. and Russia is expected to continue.