Kyiv ready to sign resources deal with US, Ukraine government source says
Ukraine is ready to sign a mineral resources deal with the United States and could do so later on Wednesday, a Ukrainian government source told Reuters.
First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko was travelling to the United States to sign the agreement, the source said, declining to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.
“I think maybe late evening Kyiv time, the deal there can be signed,” the source said.
Ukrainian officials hope that signing the deal promoted by US President Donald Trump will help to firm up softening American support for Kyiv in the war triggered by Russia’s full-scale invasion more than three years ago.
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The two sides signed a memorandum on April 18 as an initial step towards clinching an accord on developing mineral resources in Ukraine. In the memorandum, they said they aimed to complete talks by April 26 and sign the deal as soon as possible.