After months of tense negotiations, the U.S. and Ukraine signed a deal that is expected to give Washington access to the country’s critical minerals and other natural resources, an agreement Kyiv hopes will secure long-term support for its defense against Russia.

Since the beginning of the new administration, it seemed Russia’s needs and views of the war were being promoted by Trump officials, but the tone appears to be changing.

Ukrainian executive champions the U.S. minerals deal as a way to open Kyiv to private investment and expand energy security that has been a chief target in Russia's war.