Posobiec asked Bessent about the status of the deal between the US and Ukraine, which has made international headlines, especially after Zelensky's visit to the White House. Bessent said that after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent visit to the Oval Office, plans had initially been set for a press conference and a lunch with President Trump’s team. During that meeting, both parties were expected to sign a four-page framework agreement.
“What we at the Treasury did during that time was we have gone straight to the full deal. We have now presented the Ukrainians with the full, nearly 100-page document that will be the binding agreement for this deal,” Bessent stated. “We have a technical call tomorrow. I would expect that maybe Ukraine’s finance minister will be here next week and hopefully we can get this thing signed.”
Posobiec then asked whether the ongoing talks in Riyadh were related to these negotiations. Bessent confirmed that the discussions have always been part of President Trump’s global strategy, stressing that the original intent, discussed during prior US visits to Kyiv, was to ensure no daylight existed between the United States and Ukraine.
“By signing this deal, Ukrainians will close that daylight. The US will have an economic interest in the success of the country,” Bessent explained. “The American people will know that there is payback for all the resources we've put in. If Ukrainians succeed, we succeed. It really ties us together. It is not a security guarantee, but it is an economic security pact.”
The discussion turned to the economic aspects of the ongoing negotiations in Riyadh, particularly concerning transit through the Black Sea. Posobiec noted that ensuring unhindered transport for resources such as grain was crucial to stability in the region.
Bessent agreed, adding that President Trump had directed the negotiating team to de-escalate military actions targeting critical infrastructure.
“One of the first steps was for both sides to stop firing at the energy resources, especially the nuclear reactors in Kyiv,” Bessent stated. “The Ukrainians I think had damaged some refineries near Moscow. So I think taking down the temperature on infrastructure and shipping transit is an excellent first step.”
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