**US Shifts Focus to Ceasefire in Ukraine**
The US has stopped focusing on a deal with Ukraine about developing their mineral resources. Instead, the White House is now working towards a lasting ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
This was announced by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt at a press briefing on March 19. She said that the US had moved beyond just discussing the economic minerals deal and were now looking for a way to end the fighting in Ukraine.
The mineral deal was supposed to be signed weeks ago, but it was delayed after a disagreement between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The two leaders had a public argument that left the fate of the agreement uncertain.
**Previous Deal Plans Fizzled**
The deal would have seen Ukraine contribute 50% of the money from selling off their state-owned mineral resources, including oil and gas infrastructure. But the US only proposed security measures in the last version of the deal, which was not enough for Ukraine.
The Ukrainian side rejected two previous proposals because they did not include any guarantees about their safety. The US argued that the economic agreement itself would be a form of security guarantee.
**Ceasefire Takes Priority**
Now, the White House is prioritizing finding a way to stop the fighting in Ukraine. Leavitt said this does not mean the mineral deal is off the table forever, but it’s no longer their main focus.
Ukraine has already reaffirmed its commitment to signing the minerals deal and working towards peace with Russia. But the US will now be focusing on finding a lasting solution to end the conflict.