Trump: "Ukraine Intelligence Sharing Suspension Almost Lifted... Considering Tariffs on Russia"

"Significant Progress Expected This Week... Anticipating Good Results from Saudi Arabia"

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on the 9th (local time) that he has nearly lifted the suspension on intelligence sharing with Ukraine. He also said that he is closely examining many aspects related to imposing tariffs on Russia.

According to Bloomberg News, President Trump met with reporters aboard Air Force One while returning to Washington D.C. from Palm Beach, Florida, and said, "There will be good results regarding Ukraine from the Saudi Arabia (talks). I expect significant progress this week."

Donald Trump, President of the United States. Photo by Reuters-Yonhap News

He also added, "They (Ukraine) will sign the mineral agreement, but I hope they want peace," and "I want to do everything possible to seriously make Ukraine take action." He expressed no concerns about the joint military exercises scheduled for the 10th involving Russia, China, and Iran.

The U.S. and Ukraine are scheduled to discuss ending the Russia-Ukraine war and signing a mineral agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia from the 10th to the 12th. The U.S. delegation is expected to include Secretary of State Mark Rubio, White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and President Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Ukraine will be represented by Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to the President; Andriy Syvukha, Foreign Minister; and Rustem Umerov, Defense Minister. President Volodymyr Zelensky is also scheduled to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia on the 10th.

This negotiation is expected to help resolve the conflict that ended in a breakdown after a heated exchange during the White House meeting between President Trump and President Zelensky on the 28th of last month, and to pave the way for peace talks.

In an interview with Fox News on the same day, President Trump did not directly mention the talks but expressed confidence that a valuable mineral agreement with Ukraine would soon be signed.

However, there is analysis suggesting that the U.S. will demand more than just the mineral agreement behind the scenes in exchange for resuming intelligence support. On the same day, NBC News cited multiple U.S. officials reporting that President Trump unofficially emphasized to his staff that the mineral agreement alone would not be sufficient to resume military support and intelligence sharing.

President Trump reportedly wants Ukraine to change its stance on peace talks, including ceding territory to Russia, and hopes for a change in the Zelensky administration. Ukraine's elections have been suspended since Russia's invasion in 2022. President Trump has been urging the holding of elections.

Since the U.S. suspended military support and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, Russia has intensified its offensive, focusing on the Kursk region. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it has recaptured three more settlements in the Kursk region. Russian military bloggers reported that Russian special forces moved along gas pipelines to launch a surprise attack to reclaim the Kursk area. CNN reported that Ukraine's presence in Kursk is weakening and that Russia's advance threatens Ukraine's only territorial negotiation target (Kursk).

Ukrainian political analyst Volodymyr Pesenko said, "The tactics have changed," adding, "Now the most important thing is to normalize relations with the U.S. Previously, the plan was to secure security guarantees first and then pursue a ceasefire, but it is clear that this sequence will not be followed now." He continued, "Our goal is to show the U.S. that we are ready to act as soon as possible and to start direct negotiations with Russia."