Technical consultations between the U.S. and Ukraine regarding a potential minerals deal will begin in Washington on Friday, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna confirmed on Thursday.

The talks are expected to focus on bilateral cooperation over Ukraine's mineral resources and will not interfere with Ukraine's other financial commitments, particularly those related to European Union or International Monetary Fund aid.

Stefanishyna, speaking to reporters in Brussels, emphasized that Ukraine’s existing obligations, including those tied to foreign financial support, will remain unaffected by the negotiations. "Nothing... can be negotiated with Ukraine in a way that will undermine the existing commitments and obligations Ukraine has, including financial ones," she stated, underscoring Kyiv’s firm stance on preserving its current agreements.

The potential deal, which has been pushed by U.S. President Donald Trump as part of his broader efforts to end the conflict with Russia, seeks privileged access to Ukraine's mineral resources. It is also seen as a strategy to help the U.S. recover some of the financial aid provided to Ukraine during the war, though the aid was not given as a loan.

The Trump administration has revised its initial proposal for the minerals deal, now presenting a more expansive draft, according to Reuters reports. Kyiv has allocated $2.7 million towards consulting services to ensure the protection of its national interests in the ongoing discussions, as per a government document dated April 8.

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