President Donald Trump’s foreign envoy, Steve Witkoff, expressed optimism on Sunday that Ukraine would soon agree to a mineral rights deal with the US after initial hesitations over the terms. Witkoff credited Trump’s assertive stance towards Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky as a contributing factor to the potential agreement.
In an interview on “State of the Union,” Witkoff also echoed Trump’s viewpoint that Russia was provoked into starting the war, aligning with Moscow’s narrative on the illegal invasion that commenced three years ago.
Witkoff, who recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in efforts to secure the release of a detained American, conveyed confidence in Russia’s willingness to engage in peace talks to end the conflict. However, specific details on potential concessions from Moscow were not disclosed.
The proposed mineral deal, initially presented to Zelensky by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during a visit to Kyiv, outlines granting the US access to 50% of Ukraine’s mineral revenues as compensation for American aid following Russia’s invasion. Notably, the agreement does not include future security assurances or commitments for ongoing US support.
Although Zelensky initially declined to sign the deal, Trump’s public expressions of frustration reportedly influenced a shift in the negotiations. Witkoff indicated that a deal is expected to be finalized this week.
Despite the administration’s positive outlook, a source familiar with the discussions cautioned that the current draft agreement may not align with Zelensky’s expectations.
