Ukraine says it is ready to sign minerals to deal with the United States | Russia - Ukrainian War News

Ukraine's prime minister said the agreement was "good, equal and beneficial" and hoped it would be signed within the next 24 hours.

Prime Minister Denys Shygal said Ukraine is expected to reach a highly anticipated mineral with the United States, as the details finalized by both sides.

The agreement will allow Washington and Kiev to jointly develop Ukraine's mineral resources, a "money return" summoned by U.S. President Donald Trump for the wartime aid he received from the United States.

"This is indeed a good, equal and beneficial international agreement on joint investment in Ukraine's development and recovery," Shygal said on national television on Wednesday.

He added: "I hope the agreement will be signed in the near future within the next 24 hours and we will take the first step."

Washington did not comment immediately.

Ukraine and the United States plan to sign the deal a few weeks ago, but Trump and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy temporarily derailed at the White House.

"There still some details that can be resolved," Al Jazeera's Alan Fisher reported at the White House. "However, the signing of the deal is expected to be within the next 24 hours."

United Fund

Ukraine has been seeking security assurances as part of any agreement to prevent a three-year Russian invasion.

The Trump administration believes that promoting Ukraine's U.S. business interests in the event of a ceasefire will help prevent future Russian aggression.

It is not clear whether the deal includes any security guarantees in Ukraine.

Senior sources at Ukraine's presidential palace said the deal would be related to any "debt" obtained from Kiev's previous aid and would establish a "50/50" joint fund.

It added: "It ensures equality of the parties. An investment fund will be created to invest in reconstruction. It is foreseeable that we and the United States will have contributions."

Reuters reported that when Washington provides new military aid, it will be seen as a contribution to the Joint Fund.

However, the draft does not specify how the joint fund's revenues are spent, or who controls spending decisions.

Under the draft, the United States or other designated entities will receive priority (but not exclusive) access to new licenses, permits and investment opportunities in the Ukrainian natural resources sector. Existing transactions are not covered.

Previous iterations of the deal during negotiations have said it will include Ukrainian natural gas infrastructure, one of Ukraine's most valuable assets, and learned about the sources of the issue earlier this month.

The draft Reuters quoted on Wednesday did not cover natural gas infrastructure.