Kyyiv: Ukraine is preparing to send a high-level delegation to the United States this week to advance negotiations on a controversial agreement granting the U.S. access to its rare earth mineral resources. The trip was confirmed by Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who stated that representatives from multiple government ministries—including economy, foreign affairs, justice, and finance—would participate in the talks.
The proposed deal, a condition set by President Donald Trump for continued U.S. support to Ukraine, has stirred debate. Trump argues that American access to Ukraine’s valuable natural reserves is essential to bolster the country's reconstruction and long-term security following the Russian invasion. He has also suggested that U.S. commercial presence in Ukraine could serve as a deterrent to future Russian aggression, dismissing the idea of deploying peacekeepers.
Talks around the agreement follow months of stalled ceasefire discussions, with Moscow continuing to resist U.S.-led efforts to halt the conflict. A revised draft of the deal was presented to Kyiv in March, expanding the scope to include access to gas and oil reserves, in addition to rare earths. Leaks of the document triggered backlash among Ukrainian lawmakers, who accused Washington of leveraging its support for geopolitical gain.
While Trump maintains the deal would help justify billions in aid already sent to Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pushed back, rejecting any terms that would treat U.S. assistance as repayable loans or that might hinder Ukraine's aspirations for EU integration.
The February version of the agreement reportedly collapsed after a heated meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy. The newly revised draft aims to address legal, economic, and investment frameworks, according to Svyrydenko, who emphasized the mutual strategic importance of the discussions.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has expressed conditional interest in a ceasefire, with President Vladimir Putin linking any progress to the removal of certain Western sanctions. However, Western leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have accused Moscow of using stalling tactics while escalating attacks on civilians.
Macron, speaking in Cairo, urged Russia to accept the unconditional ceasefire proposed by Trump, calling for an end to what he described as deceptive diplomatic maneuvering.
Mixed signals continue to emerge from Washington. Although Trump has expressed anger at Putin’s lack of commitment, he has also played up his rapport with the Russian leader. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently indicated that patience is wearing thin, warning that Washington will not be drawn into prolonged talks with Moscow.
Rubio stated that a clear indication of Russia’s intentions should emerge “in weeks, not months.”
