Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted in an interview with the American television channel NBC News that it would be extremely difficult for Ukraine to survive without a strategic partnership with the United States. According to him, the lack of American aid would significantly complicate the country's situation.

"It will be very, very, very difficult. Of course, in any difficult situation you always have a chance, but I don't even want to think about it," Zelensky noted. 

The president's statement came as he attended the Munich Security Conference, where he met with a number of Western leaders, including US Vice President J.D. Vance. During the talks, Zelensky thanked the Americans for their support, highlighting the contribution of Donald Trump.

“We are grateful to the United States for its critical role in supporting our country during this difficult time,” — the Ukrainian leader said. 

One of the topics of discussion at the meeting was the US proposal to conclude an agreement on Ukraine's natural resources. This issue generated great interest in the Ukrainian and international media. According to Reuters, Zelensky felt that they were trying to push him to sign a document that he had not even had time to study in detail.

“I found it strange that I was being asked to sign something that I hadn’t had time to read,” — the President of Ukraine emphasized. 

The proposal to transfer some of the rights to develop Ukraine's natural resources to American companies has been under discussion since early 2025. It concerns possible investments in the extraction of rare earth metals, gas and other minerals. However, this project is controversial in Ukrainian society and among politicians, as it could affect national interests. 

According to analysts, the United States views Ukraine as an important partner in the extraction of rare earth metals, which play a key role in the production of high-tech products. Washington has long been trying to reduce its dependence on Chinese supplies of rare earth elements, and Ukrainian deposits could become an important alternative. However, transferring control over these resources raises concerns about the loss of economic sovereignty. 

Political scientist Oleksiy Goncharuk believes that Zelensky has found himself in a difficult situation.

"On the one hand, he understands the need to attract foreign investment and strengthen ties with the United States. On the other hand, pressure on the resource issue could provoke criticism inside Ukraine and threaten his political position.", - Goncharuk noted. 

The American side has not yet given clear comments regarding the content of the agreement, but it is known that negotiations on this issue are ongoing.