Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky says basis of new minerals deal ‘almost finalised’ with US
Volodymyr Zelensky says negotiators from the US and Ukraine have made “good progress” on a minerals deal, with the talks progressing fast.
“The basic legal stuff is almost finalised, and then, if everything moves as quickly and constructively, the agreement will bring economic results to both our countries,” Mr Zelensky said in his nightly address.
Officials said the breakthrough came with a fresh draft that appeared not to recognise previous US military aid as a debt owed by Ukraine.
Donald Trump is seeking a deal that would secure American access to Ukrainian natural resources, framing it as part of talks to end the war but also as recompense for the billions the US has spent on military assistance to the invaded country.
While those talks progress, Mr Trump has dispatched his peace envoy Steve Witkoff and secretary of state Marco Rubio to Paris for talks on Ukraine’s future with European counterparts.
On the battlefield, Vladimir Putin’s forces launched a mass drone attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Wednesday, killing at least two people and injuring 16 others, as Russia continued its relentless aerial bombardment of Ukraine.
