Waltz Urges Ukraine to Reconsider U.S. Minerals Agreement: "Tone It Down and Sign That Deal"

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has called on Kyiv to reassess its position on a proposed minerals agreement, urging Kyiv to reconsider its stance on a proposed minerals deal.

Speaking on Fox News on February 20, Waltz said Ukraine “needs to tone it down and take a hard look and sign that deal.”

“We presented the Ukrainians really an incredible and historic opportunity to have the United States of America co-invest with Ukraine, invest in its economy, invest in its natural resources and really become a partner in Ukraine’s future in a way that’s sustainable, but also would be – I think - the best security guarantee they could ever hope for, much more than another pallet of ammunition,” he said.

The remarks come after Trump criticized Ukraine’s leadership, referring to Zelenskyy as a “dictator without elections” and claiming—without evidence—that his approval rating had dropped to 4%. He also warned that Ukraine “better move fast or he is not going to have a country left.”

Zelenskyy responded by suggesting Trump was influenced by “disinformation,” pointing to Russian efforts to shape narratives about Ukraine. US Vice President JD Vance also weighed in, calling Zelenskyy’s handling of relations with the Trump administration “disgraceful.”

Previously, it was reported that the U.S. is opposing the use of the term “Russian aggression” in a G7 statement marking the third anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to five Western officials cited by the Financial Times on February 20.