The U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal is a full economic partnership that will allow President Donald Trump to negotiate with Russia on a stronger basis, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday.

The two countries finally reached an agreement after several false starts.

After ongoing deliberations and uncertainty, the United States and Ukraine signed a deal on Wednesday, April 30, allowing the U.S. preferential access to new Ukrainian minerals deals in return for an investment fund for Kyiv.