Ukraine could sign a US-proposed deal for the rights to its mineral wealth as early as Friday in a major step towards a peace settlement, it has been revealed.
Officials in Kyiv said President Zelensky is planning on visiting the White House on Friday to finalise the agreement.
Meanwhile, President Trump also hinted that a deal was finally around the corner as he confirmed reports the Ukrainian leader would travel across the Atlantic this week.
‘I hear that he’s coming on Friday, certainly it’s okay with me if he’d like to,’ Trump told reporters in the Oval Office last night.
Trump voiced his support once again for the rare minerals deal, noting that Ukraine needed to repay the United States for the billions it received in military aid under the Biden administration.
‘Without the United States and its money and its military equipment, this war would have been over in a very short period of time,’ Trump said.
It was revealed last night that Ukraine is now ready to sign a minerals agreement with Washington, despite rejecting the plans just days ago.
Three senior Kyiv officials, who were familiar with the matter, spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly.
‘Now government officials are working on the details’, one of the officials told The Financial Times.
‘As of now, we are considering a visit to Washington for Friday to sign the agreement.’
