U.S. and Ukraine poised to sign minerals deal

KYIV — The United States and Ukraine are poised to sign a comprehensive deal to jointly invest in Ukraine’s minerals, raw materials and natural resources that would offer Ukraine some level of long-term US support.

Speaking to Ukraine’s ICTV network, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the country’s lead negotiator for the deal — Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko — is heading to Washington to sign the deal alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Shmyhal said the investment fund would be a 50-50 partnership with the U.S. and would assist Ukraine’s reconstruction and development.

“This is a very good partnership agreement that provides for huge benefits and investments for our country, and provides for the possibility of receiving military assistance from the United States,” Shmyhal said.

“The American side can also count new, I repeat, new military aid to Ukraine as a contribution to this fund,” he added.

The deal Shmyhal describes is a victory of sorts for the Ukrainians. In February, the Trump administration had pressed Zelenskyy to sign an agreement that gave Ukraine very little and would have used profits to recoup aid the U.S. has already approved for the country.

Zelenskyy refused to sign that agreement. On Feb. 28, President Trump and Vice President Vance publicly berated Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, leaving the deal in limbo.

But both leaders had an opportunity to talk face to face when they attended Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome on Saturday. Zelenskyy described it as a “good meeting” in a social media post. White House communications director Steven Cheung told reporters that both leaders “had a very productive discussion” and said more details about the meeting would follow.

Once the deal is signed, it still must be approved by Ukraine parliament.