Donald Trump appears to have scaled back the size of his demand for Ukraine to pay back aid as part of talks for an economic deal, a report has claimed. Washington is pushing Kyiv to share the profits of future investments in minerals and infrastructure as compensation for the billions of dollars in military assistance given to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The Trump administration had estimated the total US spend at £226.4billion ($300billion), but this has dropped to £75.5billion ($100billion), according to Bloomberg, citing "people familiar with the matter". The revised figure is closer to the £94.3billion ($119.7billion) calculated by the Kiel Institute, a think tank based in Germany. It is also closer to a Ukrainian estimate of over £68billion ($90billion).

Mr Trump's apparent climbdown comes after he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky clashed before the world's media at a meeting in the White House, during which the US President accused Mr Zelensky of not showing enough gratitude for American support.

The two leaders had been expected to sign a minerals deal during Mr Zelensky's visit in February, but instead Ukraine's leader was told to leave the White House.

Last month, Washington proposed a wider minerals deal which would require Ukraine put income generated from Ukraine's natural resources by the public and private sector into a joint fund.

The proposal did not include security guarantees, something Ukraine has been pushing for. Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said today that "substantial progress" has been made in talks with the US.

She posted on social media: "Our technical teams have worked very thoroughly together on the agreement, and there is significant progress. Our legal staff has adjusted several items within the draft agreement."

Ms Svyrydenko said both sides have agreed to record progress towards a deal in a memorandum in the short term.

Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister added a deal would have to be ratified by the Ukrainian parliament and she expected it to boost the economies of both countries.

Commenting on the ongoing negotiations with the US over a revised draft of an agreement, Mr Zelensky described technical talks in Washington last week as positive, with more consultations expected in the coming days.

He said the meeting was a technical session for expert teams and that "both sides concluded the meeting on a positive note". Mr Zelensky added the discussions - both online and in person - will continue throughout the week and once the teams are ready, they will present the outcomes of their work.

Meanwhile, NATO members have pledged £16.6billion ($22billion) in security assistance for Ukraine so far this year, according to the military alliance's Secretary General Mark Rutte. He was speaking during a visit to Odesa where he met Mr Zelensky.

His first visit to Ukraine came days after two Russian ballistic missiles struck the city of Sumy on Palm Sunday, killing at least 35 people, including two children, and injuring 119.

The attack on the northeastern city, which is about 20 miles from Ukraine’s border with Russia, marked the second large-scale attack in just over a week to result in significant civilian casualties.

About 20 people were killed, including nine children, after a Russian ballistic missile struck MR Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih on April 4.

Mr Rutte told reporters: "I’m here today because I believe Ukraine’s people deserve real peace, real safety and security in their country, in their homes."

On stalled talks towards a US-brokered cease-fire deal, Mr Rutte said: "These discussions are not easy, not least in the wake of this horrific violence. But we all support President Trump’s push for peace."

Ukraine has supported the cease-fire deal, but Russia has effectively stalled the process by attaching far-reaching conditions.