Ukraine to discuss minerals deal with US

Kyiv [Ukraine], April 8: Ukraine plans to send negotiators to the United States this week to discuss Washington's latest proposed deal for access to its rare earth minerals deposits.
Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced on Monday that a team would visit the US "to move forward with negotiations" on the contentious deal, which President Donald Trump has made a condition for continued support for Ukraine as it battles Russia's invasion.
Trump has claimed that the deal, which would grant the US preferential access to valuable natural resources, would underpin Ukraine's post-war security and reconstruction. However, Moscow continues to stall regarding the bid by the White House to broker a ceasefire.
Ukraine's team will include representatives from various ministries, including those for the economy, foreign affairs, justice, and finance, Svyrydenko said. "This dialogue reflects the strategic interests of both nations and our shared commitment to building a strong, transparent partnership," she wrote on X, adding that negotiators aimed "to align on project selection, legal frameworks, and long-term investment mechanisms".
The deal is viewed as crucial for Kiev's efforts to maintain US support, with Trump appearing to veer closer to Moscow's agenda in ceasefire talks that have sidelined Ukraine and its European allies. Trump has said Washington will not back the presence of peacekeepers to guarantee Ukraine's security in a ceasefire. (Agencies)
Source: Qatar Tribune