Ukraine, U.S. hold first discussion on new draft minerals deal

This was reported by Suspilne, citing a source in the Office of the Ukrainian President.

According to the source, the first discussion between Kyiv and Washington on the draft agreement took place on March 28. Currently, both sides, with legal teams involved, are continuing their work.

"Ukraine is ready to keep working on it (referring to the agreement, – ed.)," the source told the outlet.

Minerals deal: background

On Thursday, March 27, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the U.S. is pushing for a full agreement on minerals to be signed immediately instead of a framework agreement.

On March 28, media reports surfaced that the administration of US. .President Donald Trump had reintroduced a provision requiring Ukraine to reimburse all aid provided by the U.S. since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

During the government Q&A hour in the Verkhovna Rada on March 28, Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed that the government had received a draft minerals agreement from the U.S. and was working on forming its position.

Later, Zelenskyy commented on the new U.S. draft agreement on Ukrainian rare earth minerals, stating that it contained provisions both sides had previously rejected.

On March 31, U.S. President Donald Trump said that the Ukrainian leader was looking to back out of the minerals deal.