President Donald Trump is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin this month regarding the Ukraine conflict, according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Bessent criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for not finalizing a $500 billion critical minerals agreement with the U.S. Zelenskiy turned down U.S. requests for Ukraine to repay wartime assistance with mineral resources, arguing that the U.S. had not provided enough help. Bessent pointed out that Russia might receive sanctions relief from the U.S. if talks aimed at ending the conflict advance positively.