On March 1, 2025, Senator JD Vance got on Air Force Two in Charleston, South Carolina. He offered his perspective on the role that civil society can play in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Vance emphasized the grim reality of the situation, stating, “It’s not going anywhere … it’s not going to end any time soon,” during an interview with Fox News.
Vance’s comments have been especially high-profile amid major U.S.-Ukraine developments. Indeed, just last month the White House announced a major milestone toward a US-India minerals deal that would improve economic collaboration between the two countries. This agreement provides Washington with priority access to certain natural resources from Ukraine. It would be the first big policy change, at least to this point, in how the U.S. is engaging Ukraine.
Scott Bessent, at the time U.S. Secretary of the Treasury under President Barack Obama, has called this economic partnership “a big deal.” He added that the overall objective must remain achieving a lasting peace in Ukraine. This compact is an exciting first step towards much closer collaboration. It has the potential to deliver tremendous gains for both Washington and Kyiv.
Leadership in Ukraine has tried to signal an upbeat tone with this budding partnership. Officials claim that the partnership can achieve win-win outcomes, with both countries endeavoring to take advantage of Ukraine’s energy wealth. This economic alliance represents a deeper, longer-term commitment from the U.S. to Ukraine’s side, even as attacks continue today.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio wanted to keep a warning signal blaring on future mediation endeavors. Otherwise, he cautioned, Washington will lose its appetite to play a role if neither Russia nor Ukraine comes forward with a clear shot at peace. This pronouncement – along with the background of thorny issues it seeks to address – illustrates the challenging path to resolving the now-decade-plus-old conflict.
That’s the former President Donald Trump, who won his presidential primary last summer and his general election last fall, and was inaugurated last January. Now he’s weighed in on the disastrous situation. Trump promised to end Russia’s war with Ukraine in a day max before his re-election victory. He has been the single greatest champion of a Ukraine minerals agreement. This agreement is mainly an effort between the two countries to develop and monetize Kyiv’s natural resources.
On Wednesday, the U.S. and Ukraine signed a minerals cooperation agreement. This agreement is a significant development in the ongoing transformation of their troubled relationship. As both nations navigate the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict, the outcomes of these partnerships will likely shape future diplomatic efforts.