Ukraine, U.S. Advance Critical Minerals Deal Talks

Ukraine and the United States have made notable progress toward a critical minerals agreement, but Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko and other officials confirm that a final deal will not be signed this week due to outstanding issues still under negotiation. Both countries recently signed a memorandum as an initial step to enhance economic cooperation, particularly focused on Ukraine's mineral resource development. The deal, strongly advocated by U.S. President Donald Trump, has faced delays following disputes and remains a key part of broader talks that also include the fate of Russian assets frozen since the 2022 invasion. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and other Ukrainian leaders emphasized that negotiations are ongoing despite continued Russian attacks on Kyiv, underscoring the urgency and complexity of the discussions. U.S. officials have linked the mineral agreement to ongoing discussions about Russian assets and broader economic partnership, while Trump is seeking favorable U.S. access to Ukraine's resources. Both sides remain committed to resolving outstanding questions and strengthening bilateral ties amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.