Ukraine critical minerals deal is a more practical deterrent against Russia than an international security force for post-war Ukraine proposed by key allies Britain and France.

The U.S. and Ukraine signaled Tuesday the minerals deal between the two countries is very much alive, despite continued fallout from the contentious White House meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky last week.

Ukraine's presidential administration in Kyiv and the Ukrainian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

He thinks a deal to mine Ukraine for the precious materials his industries lack will dissuade Putin from further butchery. He thinks it will please his voters convinced that the rest of the world is exploiting the US.