ANKARA, Feb 19 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy was quoted on Wednesday as saying a U.S. proposal for a critical minerals deal was unfair as it did not include security guarantees, and he did not want Ukraine to become a hub for raw materials.
Last week Kyiv sent Washington a revised draft of an accord that could open up its vast resources of critical minerals to U.S. investment in order to help win U.S. support, amid concerns in Kyiv over an earlier U.S. version.
"I said 'this document is not ready, we will not sign this. You continue to work on this document," Zelenskiyy was quoted as telling some Turkish media after talks in Ankara on Tuesday.
"I am always open to you investing in our country, in our natural resources... But if we are to give something, we have to receive something," he was quoted as saying by state-owned Anadolu news agency.
"We don't want to become a centre of raw materials for any continent."
Zelenskiyy had set out the contours of the deal in a Reuters interview this month. The minerals in question would include rare earth varieties, as well as titanium, uranium and lithium among others.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has not committed to continuing vital military assistance to Ukraine, has said he wants $500 billion in rare earth minerals from Kyiv and that Washington's support needs to be "secured".
Zelenskiyy's visit to Ankara coincided with a meeting between U.S. and Russian officials in Riyadh, without Ukrainians, over the war in Ukraine.
Zelenskiyy said he believed Ukraine had support in Washington but that he wanted to see more backing from Trump.
"We see (the U.S.) have removed Putin from his political isolation, but that is their own decision. But when you say 'these are our plans to end the war', this raises questions for us. Where are we? Where on the negotiating table are we? This war is taking place inside Ukraine," he said.
"There should be people at the negotiating table who can stop (Russian President Vladimir) Putin if he wants to return to war. And they must be able to give us real - not just promises - and concrete security guarantees. We are ready for such a dialogue," he was quoted as saying.
Millions in New South Wales were warned of potential flooding on Wednesday, as a powerful weather system dumped heavy rain along nearly 1,000 km of th...
President Emeritus of the European Council Charles Michel has called for a more coherent, autonomous European Union policy on China and regional diplo...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 20th of August, covering the latest developments you need to k...
Hundreds of Afghan refugees, including newborns and pregnant women, are living in Islamabad park under plastic sheets with nowhere to go. It's after l...
The White House debuted on TikTok on 20 August with a pro-Trump video, entering the platform even as its future in the U.S. remains uncertain under a ...
Parisians express hope and support for Europe’s backing of Ukraine as President Zelenskyy prepares for talks with Trump and European leaders in Washington, believing that continued diplomatic efforts will help resolve the ongoing conflict.
Russia offered concessions on all five occupied Ukrainian regions during the Trump–Putin summit in Alaska, and the U.S. may provide direct security guarantees to Ukraine, a senior American envoy has said.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan defended the U.S.-brokered peace accord, saying it's “not a zero-sum game” and a step toward regional cooperation benefiting all, including Russia and Iran.
In a Fox News interview, President Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan’s transit deal with Armenia is “not against anyone” and marks the “final step toward peace,” while also addressing the 2024 downing of AZAL Flight 8243, demanding accountability and full compensation.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
Honduras has brought back mask mandates as COVID-19 cases and a new variant surge nationwide.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
Kuwait says oil prices will likely stay below $72 per barrel as OPEC monitors global supply trends and U.S. policy signals. The remarks come during market uncertainty fueled by new U.S. tariffs on India and possible sanctions on Russia.
Millions in New South Wales were warned of potential flooding on Wednesday, as a powerful weather system dumped heavy rain along nearly 1,000 km of the state's coast.
President Emeritus of the European Council Charles Michel has called for a more coherent, autonomous European Union policy on China and regional diplomacy, warning against over-reliance on the U.S. or Russia in shaping Europe’s global direction.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 20th of August, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Hundreds of Afghan refugees, including newborns and pregnant women, are living in Islamabad park under plastic sheets with nowhere to go. It's after landlords evicted them following pressure from Pakistan to expel documented, as well as undocumented, families ahead of a 1 September deadline.
The White House debuted on TikTok on 20 August with a pro-Trump video, entering the platform even as its future in the U.S. remains uncertain under a looming 17 September deadline.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment