Trump: U.S. “Just About” to Resume Intelligence Sharing With Ukraine

Washington is on the verge of restoring intelligence sharing with Ukraine and expects positive outcomes from upcoming negotiations in Saudi Arabia, U.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters reporters aboard Air Force One on March 9.

“We just about have. We just about have,” Trump said when asked whether the U.S. would lift its hold on intelligence transfers to Ukraine.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed that the U.S. halted intelligence sharing to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into engaging in peace negotiations with Russia.

At the same time, Trump expressed optimism about the March 11 talks between U.S. and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia. He suggested that the discussions would determine whether Ukraine is willing to make economic concessions to Russia in exchange for ending the war.

“We’re going to make a lot of progress, I believe, this week,” Trump stated.

Additionally, the president revealed that the negotiations in Riyadh would include a deal on mineral extraction:

“They will sign a mineral extraction agreement, but I want them to want peace… They haven’t shown it to the extent they should.”

Earlier, Zelenskyy announced that a delegation of Ukrainian officials will travel to Saudi Arabia next week for negotiations with U.S. representatives.

The delegation will include Andrii Yermak, Head of the Presidential Office, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Pavlo Palisa, a former commander of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade “Kholodnyi Yar.”