Free Republic

The United States and Ukraine are on the verge of signing a mineral deal after months of fraught and chaotic negotiations, although a last-minute snag still needs to be ironed out. Ukraine's prime minister said First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko was flying to Washington on Wednesday to sign the deal, which is central to Kyiv's efforts to mend ties with President Donald Trump and the White House as the U.S. president tries to secure a peace settlement in Russia's war in Ukraine. ... However, a snag arose as Svyrydenko’s plane headed to Washington, with U.S. officials reportedly demanding that...

Ukraine wants to sign a landmark minerals agreement with the US in Washington on Wednesday following months-long negotiations, Ukrainian officials said — but it wasn’t clear if the Trump administration was ready to ink the deal. Ukraine’s Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko is currently in DC to coordinate final details tied to the mineral resources agreement, according to two senior Ukrainian officials. The Ukrainian Cabinet is expected to approve the agreement’s wording — which includes the main deal and at least two technical accords — ahead of the sit-down. There was no immediate word from the White House on whether the...