US Stays Targeting Ukraine's Mineral Assets

JAKARTA - The United States hopes for substantial progress in negotiations with Ukraine this week and hopes that an agreement on essential minerals can be signed.

This was conveyed by President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on Monday, March 10.

US negotiators are scheduled to meet with Ukraine this week in Saudi Arabia.

"I think we're going there with the hope that we'll make substantial progress," Witkoff said in an interview with Fox News.

When asked if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would return to the US to sign a mineral deal this week, Witkoff expressed his hopes.

"I really hope. All the signs are very, very positive," he said.

Witkoff said among the important things discussed were security protocols for Ukraine and territorial issues.

"The sharing of intelligence information will also be discussed at a meeting this week," Witkoff told Fox News before leaving for the Middle East to negotiate on Gaza.

However, according to him, the US has never closed intelligence information for the defensive matters Ukraine needs.