But it also does not mention the $500 billion figure that U.S. President Donald Trump was demanding in compensation for Washington’s support for Kyiv in fending off Moscow’s invasion.
The agreement could be inked as early as Friday, with a potential visit by a Kyiv delegation to Washington in the works, according to AFP. It is set to be signed by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has so far refused to sign two draft agreements proposed by Trump’s administration, saying the terms — which the New York Times reported included Kyiv giving up minerals, oil and gas revenues, plus earnings from ports and other infrastructure to the tune of $500 billion — were too harsh.
“I will not sign what 10 generations of Ukrainians will have to pay back,” Zelenskyy said at a press conference Sunday.
But Trump insisted Monday that a “final deal” is “very close” and that it will include “rare earths and various other things.”
Ukraine holds huge deposits of critical elements and minerals, from lithium to titanium, which are vital to manufacturing modern technologies and highly coveted in the global race for resources.
