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President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to travel to Washington, DC in the coming days, after the United States and\u00a0Ukraine\u00a0agreed to terms on a deal over natural resources and reconstruction, according to a Ukrainian official.<\/p>\n
Negotiations have been ongoing for days over a deal that could grant the US access to Ukraine\u2019s rare earth minerals as part of wider negotiations to end Russia\u2019s invasion, as well as US involvement in a reconstruction fund for Ukraine.<\/p>\n
The Ukrainian official said the terms were agreed after \u201ceverything unacceptable was taken out of the text and it is now more clearly spelt out how this agreement will contribute to Ukraine\u2019s security and peace.\u201d<\/p>\n
Details of the agreement are not yet known, but a major sticking point had been a demand from the Trump administration to a $500 billion share of Ukraine\u2019s rare earths and other minerals in exchange for the aid the US had already provided Kyiv, which was previously\u00a0rejected by Zelensky.<\/p>\n
The US has not confirmed whether the terms of a deal have been agreed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hear that (Zelensky is) coming on Friday. Certainly it\u2019s OK with me if he\u2019d like to, and he would like to sign it together with me. And I understand that\u2019s a big deal, very big deal,\u201d US President Donald Trump said from the Oval Office on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Asked what Ukraine would receive in the mineral deal, Trump said: \u201c$350 billion and lots of equipment, military equipment, and the right to fight on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve pretty much negotiated our deal on rare earth and various other things,\u201d Trump told reporters, adding that \u201cwe\u2019ll be looking to\u201d future security for Ukraine \u201clater on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think that\u2019s going to be a problem,\u201d Trump said. \u201cI spoke with Russia about it. They didn\u2019t seem to have a problem with it. So I think they understand \u2026 once we do this, they\u2019re not going back in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ukraine has been pushing for security guarantees, with Kyiv not only keen to see the return of lost territory but protection against a possible future Russian invasion.<\/p>\n
European leaders have also stressed the necessity for security guarantees for Ukraine as a condition for any future peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv. Following his meeting with Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday proposed boosting Ukraine\u2019s military capabilities, and \u2013 if requested \u2013 to deploy British and French troops to keep the peace.<\/p>\n
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who will visit the White House on Thursday, has said a\u00a0US \u201cbackstop\u201d\u00a0is needed for any Ukraine peace deal, which could potentially include security guarantees, American intelligence cooperation, air support and heavy lift transport.<\/p>\n
News of an agreement came after the same source told CNN the Americans had resisted security guarantees being included in the draft.<\/p>\n
The precise wording regarding Ukraine\u2019s security in the latest draft was unclear.<\/p>\n
CNN reported Monday, citing a Ukrainian source familiar with the negotiations, that some of the thornier details about the resources deal would be negotiated in subsequent talks, and that the US and Ukrainian presidents might discuss the security guarantees in person.<\/p>\n
A source told CNN at the weekend that Zelensky could not accept an earlier version of the deal because it contained no American \u201cobligations\u201d while Ukraine was \u201cexpected to provide everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since then, there have been signs the two leaders were edging closer to an agreement.<\/p>\n
During a visit to the White House on Monday, Macron commended Trump for his \u201cdecision to work with President Zelensky, and to conclude this agreement that\u2019s so important for the US and Ukraine on rare earths, critical minerals.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Russia has continued to bombard Ukraine with airstrikes, firing at least 177 drones at the country overnight into Wednesday, according to Ukraine\u2019s air force. Of these, 110 were shot down and 66 did not reach their targets, the air force said.<\/p>\n
At least seven people were killed in the overnight attacks, including two in Kyiv region, Ukrainian officials said Wednesday.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n