U.S. Treasury Secretary’s Meeting with Ukrainian Leaders

By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko on Wednesday, emphasizing the urgency of signing an economic partnership between the two countries, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.

Why It’s Important

The U.S. has indicated that it will cease efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine unless there are clear signs of progress soon.

Following a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Ukraine, President Donald Trump expressed expectations to finalize a minerals deal with Kyiv this week. An earlier attempt in February collapsed after a disagreement between President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Trump in the Oval Office.

Key Quotes

The Treasury Department stated, “Secretary Bessent reaffirmed the United States’ support for Ukrainian sovereignty and emphasized the United States’ dedication to secure a lasting, durable peace for the people of both Ukraine and Russia.”

Bessent also stressed the importance of concluding technical talks and expediting the signing of the economic partnership with Ukraine.

Context

Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded that Ukraine abandon its NATO ambitions, permanently cede four regions to Russia, and restrict the size of its military. Kyiv considers these demands a call for capitulation.

Trump and Zelenskiy clashed again on Wednesday regarding efforts to end the war in Ukraine, with Trump criticizing Zelenskiy for not acknowledging Russia’s occupation of Crimea, which occurred in 2014, prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.