**US-Ukraine Tensions Rise Over Mineral Deal**
The United States is pushing for a deal with Ukraine that would give the US 50% of Ukraine’s natural resources, including critical minerals. In return, the US would provide economic support to Ukraine.
However, the draft agreement seen by The New York Times does not offer any security guarantees to Ukraine. This has raised concerns in Kyiv and among European allies about Washington‘s stance on the war.
The deal was initially rejected by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky because it offered no security guarantees. US President Donald Trump had earlier said that Ukraine had “essentially agreed” to a $500 billion resource deal, but this figure is not in the original proposal presented to Zelensky.
**Ukraine Stresses Need for Security Guarantees**
Ukrainian officials have stressed the need for concrete security guarantees from the US. A former senior Ukrainian official called the first US proposal “a colonial agreement” and said Zelensky could not sign the document on those terms.
The European Union is discussing how to seize Russia‘s frozen central bank assets to provide financial and military aid to Ukraine, as concerns grow that the United States may scale back its support.
**Casualties Mount in Donbas**
The number of casualties in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine continues to rise. Donetsk Governor Vadym Filashkin reported that people could still be trapped under the rubble.
Russian authorities are currently assessing the damage, while Ukrainian and US officials continue to negotiate a mineral deal.
**US-Ukraine Relations Fray**
The tensions between the US and Ukraine have raised concerns among European allies about Washington’s stance on the war. A visit from Trump’s Special Envoy on Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, appeared to ease tensions and revive negotiations on the resource deal.
However, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has denied reports that the United States threatened to shut off Starlink in Ukraine unless Kyiv agreed to a minerals deal.