Ukrainian officials are scheduled to visit Washington between April 11 and 12 to renegotiate a mineral deal with the Trump administration, following the collapse of a previous agreement after a tense confrontation between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to a Bloomberg report citing sources familiar with the matter.
The renewed talks are expected to involve deputy ministers from Ukraine’s economy and justice ministries and will focus on securing more favorable economic terms for Kyiv. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent previously described the initial proposal as a “win-win” for both nations, despite its abrupt derailment during Zelenskyy’s last visit to the White House.
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The first mineral deal, shelved after a heated Oval Office exchange in March, would have seen Ukraine contribute 50% of revenues from state-owned oil, gas, and other mineral resources. The plan centered on channeling profits into joint extraction and development projects — but notably did not include any U.S. security guarantees, a sticking point for Ukrainian negotiators.
Sources told Bloomberg that Kyiv is now holding out for a version of the deal that includes stronger economic protections and potentially some form of security cooperation, though no commitments have been made publicly.
The diplomatic rift stemmed from remarks made by Zelenskyy during his last visit, in which he criticized the U.S. for “not doing enough” to deter Russian aggression. Trump, flanked by Vice President J.D. Vance, reportedly bristled at the comments.
“You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to this country,” Trump snapped at Zelenskyy, according to one person familiar with the closed-door altercation. The Ukrainian president was dismissed early from the White House following the exchange.
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In the wake of the fallout, Trump froze all U.S. military aid to Ukraine — a dramatic reversal after more than $170 billion in U.S. assistance had been provided since Russia’s invasion in 2022. That aid freeze prompted a shift in tone from Zelenskyy, who began suggesting diplomatic steps such as prisoner exchanges and pauses in air and naval operations as potential pathways to peace.
Ukraine and Russia have since entered a limited ceasefire covering commercial shipping in the Black Sea and key energy infrastructure, though a comprehensive peace deal remains elusive. The frontlines of the war have remained largely static for over a year, with neither side achieving significant territorial gains since Ukraine’s successful defense of Kyiv early in the conflict.
Despite rising domestic concerns about the cost of war, Trump has publicly maintained that a peace deal remains possible — and that economic engagement with Ukraine could serve as a more sustainable path to regional stability.
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Stakes of the New Deal
The new mineral agreement is being seen as both an economic opportunity and a diplomatic test. For Ukraine, it could provide much-needed revenue and U.S. investment at a time when international military support is waning. For the Trump administration, it may offer a way to maintain strategic leverage in the region without the burden of open-ended military aid.
“The ball is in Kyiv’s court,” one senior U.S. official told Bloomberg. “If they’re ready to be serious about peace and economic development, we’re willing to talk.”
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