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Ukraine is expecting to sign a natural resources deal with the United States on Wednesday, a source familiar with the matter told CNN. Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko will be in the US to sign the document, the source added. The news of the deal being signed as early as Wednesday was first reported by Bloomberg and the Financial Times.
The US and Ukraine have been trying to hammer out a natural resources agreement that would give Washington access to Kyiv’s untapped mineral riches in exchange for investment since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. CNN has reached out to the US Treasury and the White House for comment. Trump has largely billed the agreement as Ukraine “paying back” for the aid the US has provided to Ukraine since Russia launched its unprovoked full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022.
The details of the agreement have not been made public. However, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Sunday that the deal “will not include assistance provided before its signing.” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky was expected to sign the deal during his trip to Washington in February – but the agreement was left unsigned when that visit was cut short following the contentious Oval Office meeting .
This is a developing story..
