The Ukrainian leader has been manipulated by the West, according to Gustavo Petro
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has accused Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky of falling under Western influence and described the potential mineral resources deal between Kiev and the US as “stupidity.”
US President Donald Trump has demanded the equivalent of up to $500 billion in natural resources as compensation for aid already provided to Kiev. The Ukrainian government questioned the sum but has reportedly agreed to the deal.
Petro claimed on Wednesday that by signing the agreement on sharing profits from the extraction of Ukraine’s mineral resources, including rare-earth metals, Zelensky is ultimately handing his country over to the US.
“They fight with their Slavic brothers and end up giving Ukraine to the Americans,” he wrote on X.
“Zelensky’s stupidity, and I say this clearly, for allowing himself to be manipulated by Western Europeans, who do not know where they are going, whether towards Hitler, or towards nothing.”
The proposed deal, initially presented by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during his visit to Kiev earlier this month, seeks to grant the US sweeping rights to Ukraine’s reserves of natural resources to compensate for military and economic aid to Kiev. Following a meeting with Bessent, Zelensky rejected the proposal, citing a lack of security guarantees.
On Tuesday, several media outlets reported that Kiev has now agreed to a deal, with Zelensky expected to visit Washington this week to sign the agreement.
“I hear that he’s coming on Friday. Certainly, it’s okay with me if he’d like to sign it together with me, and I understand that’s a big deal, very big deal… the American taxpayer now is going to get their money back plus,” Trump said.
According to the Financial Times, the Ukrainians agreed to sign the deal after the US withdrew its demand for a $500 billion share of the resource proceeds. Kiev has challenged this figure, arguing that Washington has actually provided only $100 billion in aid, primarily in the form of grants rather than loans.
The reported agreement also lacked any mention of US security guarantees, something Zelensky has repeatedly asked for.
The final draft, according to the FT, mandates Kiev to establish a fund and allocate 50% of the revenue from the “future monetization” of its state-owned mineral resources, including oil, gas, and related logistics. The fund would reportedly be used to invest in Ukrainian industries.
Trump earlier stated that Washington has been asking Kiev “for rare earth and oil – anything we can get.”
