Zelenskyy: Minerals deal with the US is a 'truly equal agreement'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasised connected Thursday that the minerals statement signed with the United States was the result of negotiations that resulted successful a “truly adjacent agreement”.

 In his evening address, helium noted that the statement stipulates nary repayment obligations for erstwhile US assistance to Kyiv.

Following respective months of aggravated discussions, the US and Ukraine finalised a woody expected to assistance Washington entree to Ukraine's captious minerals and different earthy resources, an statement that Kyiv hopes volition guarantee sustained enactment for its defence against Russia.

Ukrainian officials person stated that the statement signed connected Wednesday is importantly much advantageous for Ukraine compared to earlier iterations, which they claimed relegated Kyiv to a subordinate relation and granted Washington bonzer power implicit the nation's resources.

This agreement, pending ratification by the Ukrainian parliament, volition make a reconstruction money for Ukraine, which officials judge volition facilitate ongoing American subject support.

An earlier mentation of this statement was adjacent to being finalised but was yet disrupted during a contentious gathering successful the Oval Office that included US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and President Zelenskyy.

Ukrainian reactions to the deal

Kyiv residents reacted to the US and Ukraine mineral woody with mixed feelings connected Thursday.

"Any quality is hard to take, whether it's astir negotiations oregon thing else. I inactive judge and anticipation that immoderate enactment volition output immoderate effect that volition pb our Ukraine to victory. Only to victory," said Diana Abramova, a Kyiv resident.

Despite not knowing the details of the deal, 74-year-old assemblage lecturer Natalia Vysotska expressed optimism, saying “if it was signed, past our experts indispensable person compared the pros and cons. I anticipation it volition beryllium beneficial."

But others felt much depleted. For 37-year-old Iryna Vasylevska, the woody served arsenic different reminder that “our onshore is conscionable a bargaining spot for the remainder of the satellite and that we bash not person our ain afloat protection.”

“My imaginativeness is that alternatively of strengthening ourselves, we proceed to springiness it each away,” she added. “I consciousness unspeakable astir the information that our quality resources successful warfare are considered arsenic meat. I americium definite that determination are different imaginable agreements, but those that volition marque america mediocre successful each areas.”

The statement is reached astatine a clip that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described arsenic a "very critical" week for Washington's initiatives aimed astatine resolving the conflict, which look to person reached an impasse.

Ukraine views this statement arsenic a means to warrant that its astir important and influential state remains progressive and does not retreat subject assistance, which has been important successful its ongoing conflict against Russia's full-scale penetration implicit the past 3 years.