Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Kyiv has officially received a new proposal for a minerals deal from Washington, which grants the US access to Ukrainian natural resources in return for additional military support.
“I want to emphasize that, officially, and this is significant, the Ukrainian side, specifically the cabinet of ministers of Ukraine and my office, today received… the US proposals,” Mr. Zelensky stated during a press conference in Kyiv.
A proposed agreement regarding the extraction of strategically important minerals in Ukraine with the US was scheduled to be signed in Washington last month; however, it was put on hold following a dramatic televised confrontation between Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelensky.
Last week, Mr. Trump indicated in a White House address that the US would “very shortly” finalize a pact with Ukraine.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko expressed on Facebook on Friday that Ukraine “is working to ensure that the agreement reflects all our interests.”
Mr. Zelensky mentioned that his government needs to review the text of the draft agreement they received alongside their legal team.
Ukraine initially expected to obtain security guarantees in exchange for access to mineral resources; however, the early drafts provided minimal protections, and the US has declined to deploy any peacekeeping forces to Ukraine.
Putin calls for Zelensky’s removal, stating his intent to “finish off” Ukrainian troops.
In the meantime, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for the establishment of a “transitional administration” in Ukraine and asserted that his army would “finish off” Ukrainian forces.
Mr. Putin also publicly urged Ukraine’s generals to unseat Mr. Zelensky, whom Mr. Putin has repeatedly vilified, without any substantiated evidence, labeling him as a neo-Nazi and drug addict.
When questioned about Mr. Putin’s comments later on Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that they were driven by what Russia perceives as the Ukrainian leadership’s “total lack of control” over the military, which he accused of attempting to assault Russian energy sites “on a daily basis.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed that his army would ‘finish off’ Ukrainian troops.
On the battlefield, Russia’s defense ministry reported new advances, claiming that its forces had captured a village in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region and reclaimed a border settlement in its own Kursk region.
These latest territorial gains followed Mr. Putin’s call for his troops to exploit their superiority in manpower and weaponry.
“I mentioned not long ago: ‘We will get them.’ There are reasons to believe that we will finish them off as well,” Mr. Putin remarked.
In a reflection of the war’s high toll, Ukraine reported receiving 909 bodies of soldiers killed in combat—the largest number to date.
Ukraine will not recognize prior US military aid as loans – Zelensky.
Mr. Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine would not acknowledge previously approved US military aid as loans requiring repayment, while he validated that Kyiv had received a new draft minerals deal from the United States.
At a news conference in Ukraine, Mr. Zelensky also stated that Ukraine would be open to discussions with any Russian representative—except Mr. Putin.
He added that Ukraine would not accept any agreement that jeopardizes its integration with the European Union.
Meanwhile, the EU’s commissioner for agriculture announced that the bloc anticipates reducing farm imports from Ukraine as it assesses emergency measures to support Kyiv that had opened EU markets to Ukrainian products.
Christophe Hansen mentioned that Brussels is looking to “establish a new agreement” before the measures, which have created challenges for European farmers, expire in June.
“Discussions will need to be prompt. The European Union is ready to negotiate, and it should occur in the coming weeks,” he stated in an interview.
“Import quotas will not remain the same as in this temporary liberalization. Consequently, there will indeed be fewer imports.”
Following Russia’s invasion in 2022, the EU eliminated tariffs on Ukrainian products to show support, as the war severely restricted Ukraine’s typical maritime export routes.
However, European farmers protested that they were being undercut by an influx of cheaper goods produced by their less-regulated Ukrainian counterparts.
In response last year, the EU imposed some restrictions on products such as sugar, poultry, eggs, and corn.
“We have seen that this has caused issues, particularly in certain member states,” Mr. Hansen remarked regarding the temporary measures, adding that it was “clear” EU countries do not support an extension.
If tariff-free access is not renewed in June, trade between the EU and Ukraine will revert to being governed by a previous agreement.
“It would be ideal for us to establish a long-term agreement with Ukraine, including alignment of production standards,” Mr. Hansen stated.
Russian drone strike results in four deaths, 15 injuries in Ukraine’s Dnipro.
A large-scale Russian drone attack resulted in four fatalities, injured 15, and ignited a significant fire at a hotel and restaurant complex as well as other structures in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, according to the regional governor.
Serhiy Lysak, governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, indicated that the casualty count is likely to rise, with three of the injured in serious condition.
Firefighters are working to control the blaze.
“It is now confirmed that the enemy targeted the city with over 20 drones,” Mr. Lysak shared via the Telegram messaging app.
“Most of them were intercepted.”
Images and videos shared online depicted flames and thick plumes of smoke rising from the city.
Other visuals showed the devastated interior of a building, the heavily damaged upper floors of a high-rise apartment building, and streets littered with shattered glass and debris.
Reuters could not immediately verify all reports.
