Russia-Ukraine War

The president also said that he would “stay committed” to ending the war in Ukraine.

The new partnership aims to boost military cooperation as the United States pushes Europe to shoulder more responsibility for its own defense.

Kyiv says Ukrainian forces are still active in Kursk despite Russian claims to the contrary.

Zelenskyy touted the U.S.–Ukraine minerals deal as a key outcome of the meeting, urging Ukrainian lawmakers to ratify it quickly.

A letter sent to the State Department seeks answers about the extent to which Chinese mercenaries are fighting for Russia in Ukraine.

The deal will create an investment fund governed by Washington and Kyiv that will oversee all new natural resource projects in Ukraine.

The deal was inked as Ukraine and Russia are engaged in ongoing cease-fire talks.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said negotiators will need to ’resolve a whole series of nuances’ before they can bring an end to the Russia–Ukraine war.

The Kremlin said Kyiv’s view of the proposal for the three-day cessation next month remained ’very difficult to understand.’

Amid tariff negotiations with the U.S. and cease-fire plans for the Russia–Ukraine war, South Africa’s president talked with Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy.

Russia said that North Korean soldiers had provided ‘significant assistance’ to its military in retaking the Kursk region from Ukrainian control.

‘We have clearly defined our red lines,’ the Ukrainian prime minister said after returning from Washington.

The president also described his meeting with Zelenskyy in the Vatican, saying ‘I think he understands the picture, and I think he wants to make a deal.’

Ukrainian troops have maintained a foothold within Russia’s western Kursk border region since launching a surprise attack there in August.

There was no immediate comment from Kyiv as Russian officials filed terrorism charges against the alleged Ukrainian agent.

Both leaders spoke positively of their meeting.

This comes after U.S. special envoy Steven Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia on Friday.

Zelenskyy had resisted earlier versions of the minerals deal, citing the absence of firm security guarantees for Ukraine.

Witkoff’s fourth meeting with Putin came as the Trump administration pushes to end the Ukraine war.

The incident took place as Washington is trying to negotiate an end to the Russia–Ukraine war.