U.S.-Ukraine talks aim for mineral deal breakthrough in Riyadh
Steve Witkoff, the White House's special envoy for the Middle East, said on Monday that he hopes a resources agreement with Ukraine will be reached this week. He added that he expects good outcomes from Tuesday’s talks with the Kyiv delegation in Saudi Arabia.
On Tuesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, talks will be held between representatives of the United States and Ukraine. The meeting will take place in the same location and in a similar format as the meetings between the United States and Russian delegations in February. The Russian side will not participate in the talks.
The U.S. delegation will include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Steve Witkoff. Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha, Presidential Office Chief Andrij Jermak, Defense Minister Rustem Umierov, and Deputy Presidential Office Chief Pawlo Palisa will represent the Ukrainian side.
Witkoff declared in an interview with Fox News that the United States expects significant progress during these talks with the Ukrainian delegation and hopes that an agreement on “critical minerals” will be signed.
When questioned about whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would travel back to Washington this week to sign the agreement, he conveyed hope, emphasizing that all signs pointed in a highly positive direction.
Witkoff announced in the interview that the issue of providing Ukraine with U.S. intelligence data will be discussed at this week’s meeting. He also stated that the United States has never suspended intelligence cooperation with Ukraine regarding its "defense needs."
The talks will also cover the issue of providing Ukraine with U.S. intelligence data, security guarantees for its citizens, and territorial issues, according to Reuters.
Trump is counting on “major progress”
President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that the United States has “almost” ended the suspension of intelligence sharing with Ukraine and expects positive outcomes from the U.S.-Ukraine delegation talks scheduled for Tuesday in Saudi Arabia. As reported by Reuters, when asked aboard Air Force One on his way back from Florida to Washington whether he is considering lifting the suspension of intelligence support for Ukraine, Trump replied: “We just about have. We just about have.”
The president also expressed optimism about the discussions between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha. He voiced confidence that significant progress would be made during the week and expected Kyiv to finalize an agreement with the United States regarding the extraction of Ukraine’s mineral resources. While recognizing that the deal on minerals would be signed, he underscored the necessity of Ukraine demonstrating a stronger commitment to peace.
