Trump Confident in Ukraine Minerals Deal, Aims to Diversify U.S. Supply

The White House has expressed confidence that President Donald Trump will sign a critical minerals agreement with Ukraine, a move that could bolster U.S. support for Kyiv. This development comes at a time when geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions have highlighted the importance of diversifying mineral sources.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt stated that this agreement would not only help the U.S. recover the tens of billions of dollars spent but also bring part of the control of some key minerals back to the U.S. It would also benefit the Ukrainian people in rebuilding their homes after the conflict. She added that Trump hopes Ukraine will sign the agreement and is confident they will.

According to an informed source, the goal of the negotiators from both the U.S. and Ukraine is to sign the minerals agreement as early as this week. The agreement aims to regulate the development of Ukraine's mineral resources and the reconstruction of infrastructure after the war. The source also mentioned that Washington and Kyiv are still dealing with some legal issues, including ensuring that the agreement's text will not affect Ukraine's future prospects of joining the European Union.

The U.S. Treasury Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Meanwhile, the White House is also working to persuade Russia to agree to end the three-year conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin insists that, as a condition for a ceasefire agreement, Russia must gain control of the four Ukrainian states it has not yet fully occupied.

Leavitt reiterated that Trump is frustrated that neither Ukraine nor Russia can agree to a peace agreement, but "he remains optimistic that we can do it."