President Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff traveled to Russia to meet with President Valdimir Putin
The White House continued in its efforts to engage with Russia and Ukraine. A top US diplomat traveled to Russia to speak with President Vladimir Putin. While US and Ukrainian officials met in Washington to discuss a deal that will give the US access to the profits from Ukraine’s natural resources.
A Ukrainian delegation arrived in the US on Friday for two days of talks on a natural resources deal. According to the New York Times, the deal offered by Washington will give the US access to all profits from sales of Ukraine’s natural resources, including gas, oil and rare earth minerals.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that he expects the deal will allow the US to recoup the hundreds of billions of dollars in aid Washington sent to Kiev during the Joe Biden administration. Under the current offer put forward by the White House, Kiev will pay the US 4% interest.
The Times reports that the deal will also give the US the “right of first offer” on new ventures and Washington would have veto power on any third country looking to invest in Ukraine’s natural resources.
The offer does not include a security guarantee for Ukraine. However, US officials have said that if Ukraine signs the deal, Washington will have additional economic incentives to support Kiev.
The current deal Trump has put on the table is far harsher than the one that was offered to Zelensky during his trip to the White House at the end of February. That agreement was not signed after Trump, Zelensky, and Vice President JD Vance argued in front of the media in the Oval Office.
At the time, Trump criticized Zelensky for not wanting to make an agreement to end the war in Ukraine. However, in recent weeks, Trump has increasingly placed the blame on Putin. On Friday, Trump posted on Truth Social, “Russia has to get moving. Too many people are DYING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war.”
Trump’s post followed talks between US and Russian officials in Turkey on Thursday that both sides described as positive. On Friday, Trump’s Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to St. Petersburg for talks with Putin.
A US official speaking with Axios said that Trump has set the end of the month as a deadline for Moscow to agree to a ceasefire. The White House is considering additional sanctions on Russia if the Kremlin fails to make a deal by that time.
Reprint from Antiwar.com
