Ukraine is ready to sign a landmark mineral resources agreement with the United States on Wednesday, two months after President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy engaged in a . Two senior Ukrainian officials shared the details with The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, adding that Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko is currently in Washington for the final coordination of the agreement’s technical details. The Trump administration has not yet confirmed if they are ready to sign a deal.
Trump previously said he wants Ukraine to share its mineral resources with the U.S., which will allow America to recoup aid provided to Kyiv while supporting Ukraine’s economy. The Ukrainian Cabinet is expected to approve the agreement’s text before the Washington meeting, after which it will be signed by an authorized government representative. The deal will then require ratification in the Ukrainian parliament before it can take effect.
Ukraine has introduced new provisions to the agreement, aiming to address earlier concerns that the initial U.S. draft, presented in March, disproportionately favored American interests. Negotiations between the two sides have continued steadily since then. Meanwhile, Russia's war on Ukraine killed at least 45 civilians in a nighttime drone attack on Kharkiv as U.S. mediators work to make between the two countries.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. would decide whether continuing to pursue a diplomatic end to the 3-year-old war will remain a priority for the administration. The White House has pressed both sides to agree to a 30-day ceasefire that Ukraine has said it accepted, while Russia has continued to make far-reaching demands in exchange for minimal concessions in the war. A day after the administration said a deal was “very close,” Russia launched a barrage of missiles into Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv that killed 12 people, prompting criticism of Putin from Trump and questions about the Russian leader’s interest in finding a deal.
“It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through “Banking” or “Secondary Sanctions?” Too many people are dying!! !” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. Trump also criticized Zelenskyy and accused him of "prolonging" the "killing field" after the leader pushed back against giving up Crimea to Russia as part of peace negotiations.
______ Editor's note: The National News Desk's Austin Denean and The Associated Press contributed to this article.
