US, Ukraine near agreement on mineral rights deal

The U.S. and Ukraine are close to finalizing a deal granting the U.S. mineral rights in exchange for military aid, according to Wall Street Journal.

The United States and Ukraine are nearing the completion of an agreement that would grant the U.S. access to valuable mineral rights.

This deal, which the Trump administration has been pursuing as a form of compensation for military assistance provided to Ukraine in its defense against Russia, could be finalized as soon as Saturday, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal on Friday. However, discussions are still ongoing, and the precise details of the agreement remain undisclosed.

Ukraine initially hesitated to sign the agreement earlier in the week, leading to increased tensions between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The delay also raised concerns about a potential strain in diplomatic relations between Washington and Kyiv.

In his nightly video address on Friday, Zelenskyy indicated that negotiations were making progress, stating that officials from both countries were working on a draft version of the deal. "This is an agreement that can strengthen our relations, and the key is to work out the details to ensure its effectiveness," he said. "I look forward to the outcome—a just result."

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had presented the proposal to Zelenskyy during a visit to Kyiv last week. However, Ukrainian officials did not immediately sign, citing the need for additional review and requesting security assurances. They also noted that they had only been given a few hours to examine the proposal before it was formally introduced.

“I think they want it. They feel good about it," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday when asked about the potential mineral rights agreement.

Zelenskyy’s initial refusal of the proposal contributed to rising tensions, with Trump referring to him as a “dictator” after the Ukrainian leader implied that Trump was influenced by Russian disinformation.

On Thursday, Trump’s Ukraine envoy, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, met with Zelenskyy in Kyiv, a meeting the Ukrainian president later described as one that "restores hope." Zelenskyy stated that he had directed his team to proceed with the negotiations "swiftly and very sensibly."

A source familiar with the Ukrainian government indicated that Kellogg played a pivotal role in finalizing the deal by fostering trust with Zelenskyy and other officials over the course of his three-day visit.

The disagreement over the deal had sparked concerns among U.S. allies that Trump might reduce or withdraw support for Ukraine, which has been reliant on American military and financial aid for three years in its defense against Russian forces.

Trump is advocating for a rapid resolution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Senior U.S. and Russian officials convened in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, agreeing to establish teams to negotiate a potential settlement.

However, Zelenskyy expressed dissatisfaction with being excluded from these discussions, asserting that Ukraine would not accept any agreement in which it had not been directly involved.

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