By DAVID AVERRE

Published: 14:17 BST, 16 April 2025 | Updated: 14:44 BST, 16 April 2025

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Donald Trump has reportedly scaled back his demand that Ukraine repay $300 billion in exchange for US war aid, as negotiations over a controversial minerals deal make progress. Trump insisted in the early days of his administration that his opposite number in Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelensky, must compensate the US for all the aid provided to Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.

In February, he dispatched US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (pictured left) to Kyiv to propose a highly exploitative resources-for-aid deal that would hand vast Ukrainian oil, gas, and mineral reserves to Washington. The plan drew sharp criticism from Kyiv and European allies, who noted that the sum of US aid packages to that date amounted to $175 billion - around $70 billion of which was spent domestically on US weapons manufacturing. Zelensky swiftly rejected the proposal, declaring he would not 'sell his country' and challenging claims Ukraine had received so much aid, which he also stressed was not a loan.

In February, he dispatched US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (pictured left) to Kyiv to propose a highly exploitative resources-for-aid deal that would hand vast Ukrainian oil, gas, and mineral reserves to Washington. The plan drew sharp criticism from Kyiv and European allies, who noted that the sum of US aid packages to that date amounted to $175 billion – around $70 billion of which was spent domestically on US weapons manufacturing. Zelensky swiftly rejected the proposal, declaring he would not ‘sell his country’ and challenging claims Ukraine had received so much aid, which he also stressed was not a loan.

Tensions peaked days later in a now infamous Oval Office clash in which Zelensky's visit to the White House devolved into a bitter spat between him, Trump and US Vice President JD Vance. Now, however, both sides are citing positive progress in negotiations toward a new version of the mineral deal, as Bloomberg reported Trump had lowered his demand for repayment to $100 billion. Zelensky said further talks were planned in the coming days, while US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Bloomberg the deal could be signed 'as early as this week'. Suggestions that talks on the minerals deal were progressing mark a notable change in tone after sources last week said negotiations were 'antagonistic'.

Tensions peaked days later in a now infamous Oval Office clash in which Zelensky’s visit to the White House devolved into a bitter spat between him, Trump and US Vice President JD Vance. Now, however, both sides are citing positive progress in negotiations toward a new version of the mineral deal, as Bloomberg reported Trump had lowered his demand for repayment to $100 billion. Zelensky said further talks were planned in the coming days, while US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Bloomberg the deal could be signed ‘as early as this week’. Suggestions that talks on the minerals deal were progressing mark a notable change in tone after sources last week said negotiations were ‘antagonistic’.

Ukrainian and American delegates met on Friday, but a source with knowledge of the negotiations told AP that there was 'scant' chance any breakthrough would be made. The strains in the talks stemmed from the Trump administration's latest draft proposal of the minerals deal, which is more expansive than the original version, the source said. 'The negotiating environment is very antagonistic' due to the 'maximalist' draft submitted by the Trump administration, the source said. The latest draft would give the US privileged access to Ukraine's mineral deposits and require Kyiv to place all the income from the exploitation of natural resources by Ukrainian state and private firms in a joint investment fund .

Ukrainian and American delegates met on Friday, but a source with knowledge of the negotiations told AP that there was ‘scant’ chance any breakthrough would be made. The strains in the talks stemmed from the Trump administration’s latest draft proposal of the minerals deal, which is more expansive than the original version, the source said. ‘The negotiating environment is very antagonistic’ due to the ‘maximalist’ draft submitted by the Trump administration, the source said. The latest draft would give the US privileged access to Ukraine’s mineral deposits and require Kyiv to place all the income from the exploitation of natural resources by Ukrainian state and private firms in a joint investment fund .

But the text presented last month does not include any mention of concrete security guarantees to prevent further Russian aggression, something Zelensky has said is of paramount importance. Zelensky last week said his negotiators were continuing to work with their American counterparts to hash out a deal but added any agreement must be profitable for both countries and should be structured in a way that would help modernise Ukraine. It is hoped the talks will progress ahead of a flurry of International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings scheduled for next week, including a Ukraine-focused ministers' meeting on April 25.

But the text presented last month does not include any mention of concrete security guarantees to prevent further Russian aggression, something Zelensky has said is of paramount importance. Zelensky last week said his negotiators were continuing to work with their American counterparts to hash out a deal but added any agreement must be profitable for both countries and should be structured in a way that would help modernise Ukraine. It is hoped the talks will progress ahead of a flurry of International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings scheduled for next week, including a Ukraine-focused ministers’ meeting on April 25.

Top Ukrainian officials including Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal (pictured) and Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko are expected to visit Washington to participate in the talks. Negotiations on the prospective mineral deal between Washington and Kyiv run concurrently with ongoing efforts to secure a temporary ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Russia on Sunday unleashed a pair of devastating missile strikes on the Ukrainian city of Sumy which left 34 people dead, including two children, and injured 117. Moscow claimed its missiles had struck a meeting of Ukrainian army commanders.

Top Ukrainian officials including Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal (pictured) and Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko are expected to visit Washington to participate in the talks. Negotiations on the prospective mineral deal between Washington and Kyiv run concurrently with ongoing efforts to secure a temporary ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Russia on Sunday unleashed a pair of devastating missile strikes on the Ukrainian city of Sumy which left 34 people dead, including two children, and injured 117. Moscow claimed its missiles had struck a meeting of Ukrainian army commanders.

When asked for comment by a reporter aboard Air Force One, Trump said of the strike: 'I think it was terrible. And I was told (Russia) made a mistake. But I think it's a horrible thing. I think the whole war is a horrible thing.' Asked to clarify what he meant by a 'mistake,' Trump said that 'they made a mistake... you're gonna ask them' - without specifying who or what he meant. Zelensky meanwhile lambasted Moscow for the strike and went on to invite Trump to pay a visit to Ukraine to personally see the destruction wrought by Russia's war. 'Only completely deranged scum can do something like this,' Zelensky said. 'Please, before any kind of decisions, any kind of forms of negotiations, come to see people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children destroyed or dead,' he said in a message to Trump published by CBS.

When asked for comment by a reporter aboard Air Force One, Trump said of the strike: ‘I think it was terrible. And I was told (Russia) made a mistake. But I think it’s a horrible thing. I think the whole war is a horrible thing.’ Asked to clarify what he meant by a ‘mistake,’ Trump said that ‘they made a mistake… you’re gonna ask them’ – without specifying who or what he meant. Zelensky meanwhile lambasted Moscow for the strike and went on to invite Trump to pay a visit to Ukraine to personally see the destruction wrought by Russia’s war. ‘Only completely deranged scum can do something like this,’ Zelensky said. ‘Please, before any kind of decisions, any kind of forms of negotiations, come to see people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children destroyed or dead,’ he said in a message to Trump published by CBS.

Following the broadcast, Trump hit back against CBS on his Truth Social platform, saying the war in Ukraine 'would never have happened if the 2020 Election had not been RIGGED, in other words, if I were President.' The strike on Sumy this weekend came two days after US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff travelled to Russia to meet Vladimir Putin and push Trump's efforts to end the war. Trump earlier said the visit showed that the efforts to secure a ceasefire 'might be going OK - and you're going to be finding out pretty soon'.

Following the broadcast, Trump hit back against CBS on his Truth Social platform, saying the war in Ukraine ‘would never have happened if the 2020 Election had not been RIGGED, in other words, if I were President.’ The strike on Sumy this weekend came two days after US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff travelled to Russia to meet Vladimir Putin and push Trump’s efforts to end the war. Trump earlier said the visit showed that the efforts to secure a ceasefire ‘might be going OK – and you’re going to be finding out pretty soon’.

But Poland's foreign minister declared earlier this week that Putin is 'mocking' Donald Trump's goodwill by continuing to attack Ukraine. 'Ukraine unconditionally agreed to a ceasefire over a month ago,' Radoslaw Sikorski told a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg. 'The heinous attacks on Kryvyi Rih and on Sumy are Russia's mocking answer. I hope that President Trump and the US administration see that the leader of Russia is mocking their goodwill and I hope the right decisions are taken.'

But Poland’s foreign minister declared earlier this week that Putin is ‘mocking’ Donald Trump’s goodwill by continuing to attack Ukraine. ‘Ukraine unconditionally agreed to a ceasefire over a month ago,’ Radoslaw Sikorski told a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg. ‘The heinous attacks on Kryvyi Rih and on Sumy are Russia’s mocking answer. I hope that President Trump and the US administration see that the leader of Russia is mocking their goodwill and I hope the right decisions are taken.’

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Trump cuts Ukraine repayment request by $200B

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