Media reports Trump requesting more than minerals pact from Ukraine

(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump has reportedly told his aides that securing access to Ukraine’s mineral resources alone will not be enough to resume American military aid and intelligence sharing with Kiev, NBC reports. The statement comes ahead of US-Ukrainian negotiations set to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on March 11.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky had initially planned to finalize the minerals deal during his visit to Washington in late February. However, his meeting with Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance escalated into a heated argument, preventing the agreement from being signed. Following the dispute, Trump accused Zelensky of resisting peace with Moscow and suspended military assistance and intelligence support to Ukraine.

According to sources within the administration, Trump now expects more than just an economic agreement—he wants Zelensky to show a genuine commitment to peace talks, including making territorial concessions to Russia to end the conflict. Additionally, the US president believes Ukraine should hold a presidential election and that Zelensky should consider stepping down.

High-level discussions between US officials and Zelensky’s chief of staff are set to take place in Jeddah on Tuesday. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will meet with a Ukrainian delegation led by Andrey Yermak to explore possible resolutions to the ongoing war.

Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump expressed optimism about the negotiations, stating, “We are going to make a lot of progress.” He also predicted that Ukraine would eventually sign the minerals deal.

Meanwhile, The Financial Times reports that Kiev plans to propose a partial ceasefire with Moscow, focused on halting long-range drone and missile strikes as well as combat in the Black Sea. Ukrainian officials hope this move will persuade Washington to restore military aid and intelligence sharing.

Russia, however, has rejected the idea of a temporary truce, insisting that any resolution must be based on legally binding agreements that address the root causes of the conflict.

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