Ukraine and the US may sign a memorandum of intent on a mineral deal today

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine may sign a memorandum of intent with the United States on a future mineral deal as early as today.

As he said during a briefing, technical negotiations with the American side were successful.

«You know that we have all been working hard on the agreement, which has to go to the parliament, go through the relevant procedures, and the lawyers have to work so that it is a success for both countries. That's why the technical meeting of the teams was positive, because we see how the parties are meeting each other halfway. A couple of days ago, the American side suggested that we should go back to one more step while the lawyers are working on the agreement. This is a memorandum of intent. We have positive intentions, we are constructive, we show it. Therefore, a memorandum of intent, that is, not the agreement itself, but a memorandum of intent, can be signed online today,» Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Agreement on minerals between Ukraine and the United States

Earlier, Donald Trump said that he would like to conclude an agreement under which Ukraine would supply the United States with rare earth minerals needed for electronics production in exchange for American aid.

However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticised Donald Trump's proposal to provide Ukraine with military assistance in exchange for its minerals.

Subsequently, US President Donald Trump said that Ukraine had agreed to provide Washington with access to rare earth minerals worth $500 billion.

It should be noted, however, that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused to sign an agreement to grant the US access to rare earth minerals. The White House called this decision «short-sighted».

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the United States might consider investing in mining on the Black Sea shelf, which is currently under Russian occupation.

US National Security Advisor Mike Volz called on Kyiv «to tone it down» and sign the mining agreement that President Zelenskyy had previously rejected.

Subsequently, the US President Donald Trump's administration sent Ukraine an updated version of the mining agreement, which took into account some of Kyiv's comments. The new draft US minerals agreement provides for the distribution of revenues from resources in the liberated territories of Ukraine.