Ukraine, US ‘agree on framework for economic deal’
Ukraine and the United States have reached an agreement on a framework for a broad economic deal that would include the exploitation of rare earth minerals, three senior Ukrainian officials say.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly.
The deal was agreed after “everything unacceptable was taken out of the text and it is now more clearly spelt out how this agreement will contribute to Ukraine’s security and peace,” one source told CNN.
One of them said Kyiv hoped that signing the agreement would ensure the continued flow of US military support that Ukraine urgently needs.
US President Donald Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wanted to come to Washington later this week to sign the deal, after the two leaders exchanged hostile words last week.
Sources said the visit was scheduled for Friday.
Trump also said some form of peacekeeping troops were needed in Ukraine under any agreement to end the three-year-old war with Russia. Moscow has refused to accept any deployment of NATO troops.
Trump’s rush to impose an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine has stoked fears of far-reaching US concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin that could undermine security in Ukraine and Europe and alter the geopolitical landscape.
It was not immediately clear whether the agreement carried any specific US security guarantees that Ukraine had sought or if Washington had committed to sending additional military aid.
Stay informed, daily
One of the sources said future weapons shipments were still being discussed between Washington and Kyiv.
Trump last week called Zelensky an unpopular “dictator” who needed to cut a quick peace deal or lose his country, while Zelensky shot back that Trump was living in a Russian “disinformation bubble”.
-with AAP
