U.S. decreases Ukraine aid demands amid Trump negotiations
The U.S. has reduced its demands for the return of aid provided to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, from $300 billion to about $100 billion, Bloomberg reported, citing sources close to the matter. This reduced amount aligns closely with Kyiv's estimates, which are over $90 billion.
As Bloomberg pointed out, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is pressuring Ukraine to agree to a profit-sharing deal from future Ukrainian investment projects, including those related to infrastructure and mineral deposits. From Washington's perspective, this is meant to be compensation for the transfer of weapons and other forms of aid provided to Kyiv during Joe Biden's presidency.
The head of the U.S. Treasury Department, Scott Bessent, told Bloomberg that negotiations between Kyiv and Washington are still ongoing.
"We are very, very close. It could even be signed as early as this week," he announced.
According to Bloomberg's sources, the Trump administration is reluctant to join the U.S. in a special investment fund intended to support the reconstruction of Ukraine in the future. As Bloomberg emphasizes, this fund is of crucial interest to Kyiv.
Instead, the authorities in Washington insist that the support for Kyiv during the war should be considered a contribution to the fund. Ukrainian negotiators are having difficulty persuading the American side away from this idea.
The White House does not respond to requests for comment
The Ukrainian government declined to comment on the matter until the agreement is signed. The White House and the Treasury Department also did not respond to requests for comment.
According to the Ukraine Support Tracker, published on Tuesday by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, since the start of the Russian invasion over three years ago, European countries have granted Ukraine a total of 138 billion euros (157 billion dollars) in aid, while the U.S. provided 23 billion euros (26 billion dollars) less. These figures include military, financial, and humanitarian aid.
