U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that the United States will soon sign an agreement on minerals and natural resources with Ukraine.
Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday evening that his efforts to achieve peace between Ukraine and Russia are “going very well,” as he had spoken this week with the leaders of the two countries involved in the war.
“We are doing very well with Ukraine and Russia. And one of the things we are doing is signing very soon an agreement with Ukraine on rare minerals,” said Trump.
While Trump made these comments, Russian forces attacked civilian infrastructure in Odesa, causing damage and injuring three people, including a girl, according to the regional governor.
“The enemy heavily attacked Odesa and the region with drones,” said Governor Oleh Kiper.
“There is damage to civilian infrastructure, including a high-rise building, a shopping center, and stores,” he wrote on Telegram.
Meanwhile, it is reported that Ukrainian forces attacked a gas distribution station in Sudzha, located in the Kursk region of Russia. Independent media outlet Sota published a photo on Telegram showing a large fire.
Ukrainian government officials have not commented on this attack. Moscow has not reported the incident either.
The station was the only point through which Russian gas passed on its way to Europe, until Ukraine refused to extend a transit agreement in January.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday ordered Ukrainians in the occupied territories of Ukraine to obtain a Russian passport by September 10 or leave. The ultimatum applies to Ukrainians in the occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, said former Ukrainian Economy Minister Tymofiy Mylovanov.
This week, Trump held separate talks with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, attempting to mediate a ceasefire between the two neighboring countries.
He did not manage to secure a full 30-day ceasefire, but the talks led to Putin agreeing to halt Russian attacks on energy infrastructure for 30 days. After the talks with Trump, Zelensky said he would also accept such a pause.
“We want this (war) to end, and I think we are making quite good progress in that direction,” said Trump.
Ukraine and the United States agreed earlier this month to finalize a comprehensive agreement on the development of its mineral resources. Efforts to finalize the deal collapsed on February 28 after a heated debate between Trump and Zelensky at the White House.
Trump and Zelensky agreed on March 19 to work together to end Russia’s war in Ukraine during a phone call that the White House described as “excellent.”
It is unclear whether the terms of the mineral deal have changed. A previous version did not include security guarantees for Ukraine, which Zelensky had requested.
