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The U.S. has signed an agreement to provide long-term military aid to Ukraine, ensuring support for the next 10 years.Ukrainian officials say the deal gives the U.S. access to more than 20 critical minerals used in military equipment, medicine, and electric car batteries. The minerals have become vitally important as China has banned similar types of exports to the U.S. amid the escalating trade war.Facing criticism on separate, ongoing negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war that have oftentimes favored Russia, the White House says the deal is proof that they are on Ukraine's side."The Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign and prosperous Ukraine over the long term," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.In addition to long-term military aid through the deal, Ukraine says the U.S. dropped a provision that would have blocked it from joining the European Union. Ukraine's parliament has yet to sign off on the deal. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has called it a "critical week" for peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. But a spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin says the war is "far too complex" to reach a quick agreement, adding that Russia is ready for direct talks with Ukraine. The U.S. has been going back and forth between the two parties, but members of the Trump administration say they need concrete proposals or they may walk away from mediating a peace deal. Russia has also ignored a U.S. request for a 30-day ceasefire and is instead proposing its own three-day truce next week. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he thinks Putin may be stringing him along.