Zelenskyy says progress made on reaching an agreement with the US on rare minerals deal
As a reward for its assistance to Kyiv during the war, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday, indicating that a more balanced deal is being considered.
Zelenskyy had previously rejected a US-proposed agreement regarding the extraction of valuable minerals from his country, including lithium used in aerospace, defense, and nuclear industries, due to a lack of security assurances and a hefty $500 billion price tag.
of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader said that considering aid as a debt to be repaid would be a "Pandora's box" scenario that would set a precedent for Kyiv to reimburse all its backers.
We won't accept the debt," Zelenskyy said. "It won't be in the final agreement.
There was no further information provided on the state of the negotiations. Ukraine is insisting on receiving security guarantees to prevent any potential Russian aggression in the future.
Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, stated on CNN's "State of the Union" that he anticipates a deal this week that will enable the U.S. to play a more significant role in developing Ukraine's mineral resources.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the administration's minerals plan aims to establish a partnership between the US and Ukraine, referring to it as a "win-win."
"We make money if the Ukrainian people make money," Bessent said in an interview on the Fox News Channel's Sunday Morning Futures program.
Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, departed the Kyiv conference early, accompanied by Economic Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, to discuss a potential agreement with U.S. officials, according to Yermak.
Later on Sunday, Yermak posted on social media that he had spoken with U.S. officials, including Bessent and Trump's national security advisor Mike Walz, saying it had been a "constructive conversation."
We're making progress," Yermak wrote. "The United States is our partner and we're thankful to the American people.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he would be willing to resign as president if Ukraine is granted membership in NATO.
In response to a question from a reporter about whether he would step down as president if it would bring peace to Ukraine, Zelenskyy said he would if it meant a lasting end to the fighting under the protection of the NATO military alliance.
If you really need to achieve peace, I'm willing to give up my position, he said. "I'd be happy to exchange it for a NATO role.
His comment seemed to be targeted at recent proposals by President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin that elections be held despite Ukrainian laws prohibiting them during martial law.
Ukraine is worried about the shift in Trump's policy towards Putin.
The United States' economic cooperation with Moscow has marked a dramatic about-face in U.S. policy, causing concern among leaders in Ukraine and across Europe.
Zelenskyy has expressed concern that if Trump pushes for a rapid resolution, Ukraine may lose territory and be left vulnerable to future Russian aggression. US officials have stated that the Ukrainian leader would be involved in peace talks when and if they begin.
Trump, however, sparked alarm and outrage in Ukraine this week when he suggested that Kyiv had started the war and that Zelenskyy was acting like a "dictator" by not holding elections.
The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov, told the state-run news agency TASS on Sunday that Russia and the United States will continue their diplomatic talks at the end of the following week.
Ryabkov stated that talks would occur between department heads from both countries' foreign ministries, noting that "quite a lot" of contact is currently ongoing between the Russian and American sides.
European leaders prepare for a meeting with Zelenskyy and Trump.
European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other top EU leaders were scheduled to travel to Kyiv on Monday for discussions with Ukraine's government as the EU worked to develop a response to the changes in U.S. policy under the Trump administration and to ensure continued support for Kyiv in the event of a halt in aid from Washington.
The UK announced that it will impose new sanctions on Russia on Monday, describing them as the largest package since the start of the war. Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that the measures will be directed at dismantling Russia's "military machine and reducing revenues that are fueling the fires of destruction in Ukraine."
In search of a peace agreement.
Russia unleashes record drone strikes as anniversary of conflict approaches
On Sunday, Zelenskyy stated that Russia launched 267 drones into Ukraine overnight, the most in a single attack since the start of the war.
Ukraine's air force reported that 138 drones were shot down over 13 different regions of Ukraine, with an additional 119 drones failing to reach their intended targets.
Three ballistic missiles were also launched, the air force stated. One person was killed in the city of Kryvyi Rih, as per the city's military administration.
In response to the recent Russian attacks, Ukraine's foreign affairs minister, Andrii Sybiha, commented on social media: “No one should trust Putin's words. Look at his actions instead.”
Additional penalties have been imposed on Russia.
New Zealand will impose additional sanctions on 52 people and entities linked to Russia's military and energy sectors, North Korea's support for Russia's war efforts, and the forced relocation and reeducation of Ukrainian children, according to New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters.
Since March 2022, New Zealand has imposed sanctions on over 1,800 individuals and entities.
New Zealand will contribute another 3 million New Zealand dollars, which is approximately 1.7 million US dollars, to the World Bank-managed fund for Ukraine, Peters stated in a statement.
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Associated Press writers Thomas Strong and Will Weissert in Washington and Charlotte Graham-McLay in Wellington, New Zealand, helped with this report.
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https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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