Bessent: Trump Seeks to Leverage U.S.-Ukraine Mineral Deal as Pressure Tool Against Russia

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed that President Donald Trump views the recently signed mineral agreement with Ukraine as a strategic instrument to exert pressure on the Kremlin, particularly in the context of future peace negotiations.

The Gaze reports on this with reference to Milken Institute.

Speaking at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, Bessent emphasized that the initiative originated from President Trump himself and is designed to achieve multiple objectives. One of them, he noted, is to strengthen Washington's negotiating position with the Kremlin. “First of all, it will create additional leverage for him in negotiations with the Russian leadership when the right moment comes,” Bessent said.

The Treasury chief also highlighted the symbolic and political weight of the agreement, calling it a message of solidarity with Ukraine and reassurance to the American public.

“This agreement was meant to demonstrate that there is no daylight between the U.S. and the Ukrainian people,” Bessent stated. “It was also meant as a signal to the weary American public, skeptical of new financial obligations, that shared prosperity with Ukraine is possible. In a certain sense, it would serve as a silent security guarantee through economic partnership.”

The United States and Ukraine signed a framework deal on April 30 aimed at boosting bilateral economic cooperation, particularly in the critical minerals sector. The agreement includes provisions related to 57 key minerals and references military assistance from the United States. President Trump later remarked that the deal would bring more value to the U.S. than what has been spent on Ukraine so far.

Critics have urged caution, noting that without full transparency and ratified technical details, it remains unclear how the agreement will affect Ukraine's sovereignty over its natural resources.

As The Gaze reported earlier, the historic U.S.-Ukraine minerals agreement has sparked diverse international reactions, highlighting both optimism and concern over its long-term implications.