Ukraine ‘agrees to US minerals deal’ as Washington eases key demands

Ukraine has agreed terms with the United States on a landmark minerals deal which could bring peace to the war-torn country.

Volodymyr Zelensky’s officials have said Kyiv is now ready to sign the agreement on developing its mineral resources after the US let go its demands for a right to $500billion in potential oil and gas revenue from Ukraine.

But the officials argued that they had negotiated far more favourable terms – and have hinted the deal would be a way to improve relations with Donald Trump’s US after three years of war.

“The minerals agreement is only part of the picture. We have heard multiple times from the US administration that it’s part of a bigger picture,” Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister told the Financial Times on Tuesday.

More to follow…