Zelensky says Ukraine received new US minerals deal proposal
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that Kyiv had formally received from the United States a new minerals deal proposal giving US access to Ukrainian natural resources in exchange for further military support.
"I would like to note that officially, and this is important, the Ukrainian side, namely the cabinet of ministers of Ukraine and my office, today by a note, we officially received... the US proposals today," Zelensky said at a press conference in Kyiv.
A planned deal on extracting strategically important minerals in Ukraine with the United States had been set to be signed in Washington last month, until a spectacular televised clash between US President Donald Trump and Zelensky.
Trump said in a White House address last week that the US would "very shortly" sign a pact with Ukraine.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News this week that Washington had handed over a finalised partnership document that it hoped could be signed as soon as next week.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko wrote on Facebook on Friday that Ukraine "is working to ensure that the agreement reflects all our interests".
Zelensky said that his government needed to review the text of the draft agreement it received Friday with lawyers.
Ukraine once hoped to get security guarantees in exchange for access to mineral resources, but initial drafts included little protection, and Washington has rejected sending any peacekeeping forces to Ukraine.