WASHINGTON – The United States is expected to finalize an agreement this week to secure access to Ukraine’s critical mineral deposits, according to U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The potential deal marks a significant development in U.S.-Ukraine relations, as both nations navigate geopolitical tensions and ongoing war with Russia.
Speaking on CNN’s ‘State of the Union’, Witkoff disclosed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had initially hesitated on the agreement, rejecting an earlier U.S. proposal demanding $500 billion in mineral wealth as repayment for wartime aid. Witkoff noted, however, that President Donald Trump directly intervened, ensuring Zelenskiy’s renewed commitment. “The president sent the message to him. He’s not wavering any more,” Witkoff stated, adding that the agreement is likely to be signed this week.
Treasury Secretary Bessent echoed this optimism on Fox News, stating he was “hopeful” about the deal’s imminent conclusion. Despite previous resistance, Zelenskiy’s administration is now actively negotiating the terms, with his chief of staff confirming that discussions will continue in the coming days.
The negotiations occur as Trump intensifies his efforts to broker peace in Ukraine, having engaged in separate talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskiy. Trump’s diplomatic team also met Russian officials in Saudi Arabia, notably excluding Ukrainian representatives from the discussions. The U.S. president has urged both nations to collaborate on ending the war, which began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, following its earlier annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Trump’s diplomatic approach has been met with criticism both domestically and internationally. His comments on the war’s origins, initially suggesting that Ukraine “should have never started” the conflict before reversing his stance, sparked controversy. In clarifying his position, Trump acknowledged Russia’s invasion but argued that NATO discussions had unnecessarily provoked the conflict.
“The war didn’t need to happen. It was provoked. It doesn’t necessarily mean it was provoked by the Russians. There were all kinds of conversations back then about Ukraine joining NATO. That didn’t need to happen. It basically became a threat to the Russians,” Witkoff explained.
The upcoming agreement on critical minerals is poised to further shape U.S.-Ukraine relations, impacting global supply chains and the geopolitical landscape as Ukraine navigates its ongoing war with Russia.