Ukraine Signals Readiness for New Minerals Deal After Initial Agreement Collapses

Ukrainian authorities have communicated their willingness to American officials to move forward with a pivotal minerals agreement. This comes shortly after the initial plan to formalize the deal during a contentious Oval Office meeting with President Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Vice President JD Vance was derailed.

Treasury Secretary, who participated in discussions with Zelenskyy regarding the minerals agreement, was questioned by CBS News' Margaret Brennan on "Face the Nation" about the current state of the economic deal.

"At the moment, it's not active," he stated.

Insiders reveal that the deal remains unfinalized, and its terms might evolve since the president seeks what he describes as a "significantly improved agreement," according to a source speaking anonymously to discuss the sensitive negotiations.

Reports from the administration to CBS indicate that there were no plans as of Tuesday afternoon for Mr. Trump or senior advisors to sign a deal.

In a detailed message on Tuesday, Zelenskyy expressed, "No party craves peace more earnestly than the Ukrainians. My team and I are prepared to collaborate under President Trump's assertive guidance to achieve enduring peace."

Currently, around 20% of Ukraine's territory, including extensive stretches of the eastern Donbas region and Crimea, is under Russian control. This area encompasses a vital section with resources crucial for defense, aerospace, technology, and energy sectors.

Ukraine is thought to possess roughly 5% of the globe's rare earth elements. In contrast, the U.S., covering a much larger area, is estimated to have a mere 1-2% of the world's rare earths.