The United States’ Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, on Monday said that the U.S. expects substantial progress in talks with Ukraine this week and hopes that a deal on critical minerals can be signed.
DAILY POST recalls that U.S. negotiators were set to meet with Ukrainians this week in Saudi Arabia.
When asked if he thought Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would return to the U.S. to sign a minerals deal this week, Witkoff expressed confidence that a deal would be signed.
“I think that we’re going over there with an expectation that we’re going to make substantial progress. I am really hopeful. All the signs are very, very positive,” Witkoff said.
He said that among the important items on the table will be security protocols for the Ukrainians and territorial issues.
He reiterated that intelligence sharing will also be discussed at this week’s meetings.
Witkoff, however, stated that the U.S. has never withheld intelligence for anything defensive that the Ukrainians needed.
DAILY POST reports that the United States planned to use the meeting with a Ukrainian delegation in Saudi Arabia to determine whether Ukraine is willing to make material concessions to Russia to end the war.