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Ukraine is prepared to sign a significant mineral resources agreement with the United States in Washington on Wednesday, according to two senior Ukrainian officials speaking anonymously. The deal comes after months of negotiations between the two nations.
Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko is currently in Washington finalizing technical details of the agreement. The Ukrainian Cabinet is expected to approve the agreement's text before the Washington meeting, after which an authorized government representative will sign it.
The agreement will require ratification by the Ukrainian parliament before taking effect. Multiple documents are involved, including a main agreement and at least two technical accords outlining the structure and operations of a joint fund.
One Ukrainian official expressed satisfaction with how the agreement has evolved during negotiations, while another hopes there will be no further changes from Washington's side. It remains unclear whether the Trump administration is ready to finalize the deal.
"We realize that Washington wants to achieve quick progress, but we hope for understanding that the Ukrainian crisis settlement is far too complex to be done quickly," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov regarding broader peace efforts.
Ukraine has introduced new provisions addressing earlier concerns that the initial U.S. draft from March disproportionately favored American interests. An industry official close to the discussions noted that more "details and not just declarations" were added to the text.
President Trump has previously stated he wants Ukraine's rare earth elements as a condition for further support in its war with Russia, which has now lasted more than three years. The agreement represents a potential turning point in U.S.-Ukraine relations during the ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, Russian attacks continue to affect Ukrainian civilians. A nighttime Russian drone attack on Kharkiv wounded at least 45 civilians, officials reported. The United Nations stated that Ukrainian civilian casualties have surged in recent weeks amid Washington's attempts to broker peace.
According to a UN Human Rights Office report, 2,641 civilian casualties were verified in Ukraine during the first three months of this year—almost 900 more than during the same period last year. Between April 1-24, civilian casualties increased 46% compared to the same weeks in 2024.
As negotiations over mineral resources proceed, broader peace talks face challenges. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was quoted saying, "We are now at a time where concrete proposals need to be delivered by the two parties on how to end this conflict," highlighting the urgency for diplomatic progress amid continuing violence.
