President Trump is optimistic about negotiations with Ukraine in Saudi Arabia aimed at peace and resource agreements. Upcoming discussions will focus on Ukraine’s potential concessions to Russia and a minerals extraction deal. However, recent suspension of U.S. military aid complicates these talks, indicating that more than a minerals deal will be needed to restore support.
United States President Donald Trump has expressed optimism regarding the upcoming negotiations with Ukraine, which are scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia on March 11. According to Trump, he forecasts substantial progress in the discussions, particularly in determining if Ukraine will be willing to make concessions to Russia to conclude the ongoing conflict. “We’re going to make a lot of progress, I believe, this week,” he stated.
The meeting will not only focus on negotiations but will also address an agreement concerning the extraction of minerals. This agreement is significant as it would provide the United States access to Ukraine’s rare earth resources, which are crucial for various industries. Trump mentioned, “They will sign the minerals deal. But I want them to want peace.”
However, the backdrop of these discussions includes a recent suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing by the United States towards Ukraine. This decision followed a confrontation between President Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on February 28. Trump has voiced skepticism about Ukraine’s survival even if military support were restored and has been advocating for an end to hostilities.
Zelenskyy is expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia imminently to engage in discussions with U.S. officials. The aim is to deliberate on the resumption of aid to Ukraine. Nevertheless, according to NBC News, U.S. officials indicated that a minerals deal alone would not suffice for Trump to reinstate military aid and intelligence sharing.
In summary, President Trump anticipates that the upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia with Ukraine may yield fruitful outcomes, particularly regarding concessions to end the conflict with Russia. The strategic focus will also include a minerals extraction deal that grants the U.S. access to valuable resources. However, the recent suspension of U.S. military aid clouds these negotiations, as officials suggest that merely securing a minerals agreement will not resume aid and intelligence cooperation.
Original Source: newsukraine.rbc.ua
