Trump: US almost resumes intelligence sharing with Ukraine

US President Donald Trump has said that Washington is close to resuming intelligence sharing with Ukraine. He also expressed hope for positive results of the upcoming talks between the US and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia.

On 9 March, Donald Trump told reporters that the US had almost lifted «the pause» in intelligence sharing with Kyiv, Reuters reported.

«We're almost there,» he said, answering a question about the possible unblocking of intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

Earlier, CIA Director John Ratcliffe explained that the United States had suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine, using it as leverage to pressure President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to engage in peace talks with Russia.

Donald Trump also said that he expects significant progress at the talks in Saudi Arabia on 11 March, where, among other things, the issue of Ukraine's readiness to make material concessions to Russia to end the war will be discussed.

«I believe we will make significant progress this week,» Donald Trump said.

In addition, the talks are expected to discuss a mining agreement that will give the US access to Ukraine's rare earth resources.

«They will sign a mining agreement, but I want them to want peace... They have not demonstrated that to the extent that they should,» the US president added.

Agreement on minerals between Ukraine and the United States

Earlier, Donald Trump said that he would like to conclude a deal under which Ukraine would supply the US with rare earth minerals needed for electronics production in exchange for US aid.

However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticised Donald Trump's proposal to provide Ukraine with military assistance in exchange for its minerals.

Subsequently, US President Donald Trump said that Ukraine had agreed to provide Washington with access to rare earth minerals worth $500 billion.

It should be noted, however, that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused to sign the agreement on granting the US access to rare earth minerals. The White House called this decision «short-sighted».

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the United States might consider investing in mining on the Black Sea shelf, which is currently under Russian occupation.

US National Security Advisor Mike Volz called on Kyiv «to tone it down» and sign the mining agreement that President Zelenskyy had previously rejected.

Subsequently, the US President Donald Trump's administration sent Ukraine an updated version of the mining agreement, which took into account some of Kyiv's comments. The new draft US minerals agreement provides for the distribution of revenues from resources in the liberated territories of Ukraine.