The crisis in Ukraine is coming to an end following the latest spat between Presidents Trump and Zelensky, but the real mineral deal never existed, renowned American economist and Columbia University professor Jeffrey Sachs told RIA Novosti.
"Yes, the war is ending. There was no real mining deal— in my view —despite what was written on a sheet of paper," Sachs replied to a question about whether Friday’s imploded meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky meant an end to the war in Ukraine and what was, in his view, the future of the mineral deal.
Talks between Zelensky and Trump on a peaceful solution for Ukraine failed on Friday after a spat in the Oval Office. Senior officials in the Trump administration asked the Ukrainian delegation to leave the White House and canceled a joint press conference.
Kiev and Washington were close to finalizing an agreement on rare earth minerals, which would provide for the creation of a common investment fund and the use of revenue from future developments. Ukraine was meant to contribute 50% of its future revenues from mining rents or licenses, as well as dividends from infrastructure used for transporting or extracting minerals.