Zelensky says received new US draft on critical minerals deal
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says the United States had officially presented a draft agreement from the United States about the anticipated minerals deal between the two.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a briefing in Kiev, Ukraine, on Friday, March 28, 2025. (AP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday that Kiev had officially received a new draft agreement from the US on a critical minerals deal, highlighting significant differences from earlier proposals, Interfax-Ukraine reported.
Speaking at a press briefing, Zelensky stated that the document, now under review, will be compared with previous frameworks shared with Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko during bilateral talks with US officials.
He also firmly dismissed the idea that US military assistance to Ukraine should be considered a loan. “We are grateful for the support, but this is not a credit, and we will not allow it to be treated as such,” he asserted.
Military, intelligence cooperation
Zelensky revealed that Ukraine is preparing to host a high-level meeting with military representatives from countries willing to consider deploying contingents to Ukraine. France, the UK, and Ukraine have confirmed participation in the planned closed-format discussions.
Additionally, he announced that Kiev had secured agreements with several European partners to expand intelligence-sharing, including access to satellite systems and military technology, as well as opening ammunition stockpiles for Ukrainian forces.
He also confirmed that fresh defense assistance packages would be unveiled at the next Ramstein-format meeting in April, following coordination with allied leaders.
International consultations for monitoring
Zelensky also noted that the US intended to consult with Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and European nations on establishing international monitoring mechanisms related to the war.
While expressing skepticism about Saudi Arabia’s potential role in overseeing Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, he suggested that Turkiye could play a key role in securing the Black Sea.
On the battlefield, he reported that Ukrainian forces were actively countering a Russian military buildup south of Russia’s Kursk region to prevent a possible offensive toward Ukraine’s Sumy region.
Regarding potential talks with Moscow, Zelensky acknowledged that Ukraine could consider engaging in dialogue with Russia under specific conditions, though he did not elaborate on what those might be.
Minerals deal to be open-ended
Verkhovna Rada member Yaroslav Zheleznyak said the minerals agreement between the United States and Ukraine will have no expiration date and will exclude any security guarantees.
"The agreement will remain in effect indefinitely. Any changes or termination of the agreement can only occur with American consent. They hold the right of 'first refusal' on all new infrastructure projects and possess the authority to veto the sale of resources to other countries," Zheleznyak stated on his Telegram channel.
He stressed that the document contained "absolutely no provisions regarding security guarantees, not even a hint."
Zheleznyak also noted that the 58-page agreement, dated March 23, is "not final" and expressed hope that Ukraine would push for revisions. "The text I saw is terrible. This is a significant and very clear deal, and it is not in our favor," he emphasized.
