**Ukraine and US Negotiate Rare Earth Mineral Deal**
Ukrainian and US officials met all night to discuss a new deal on rare earth minerals. The talks took place on February 21.
The US wants to buy half of Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. In exchange, Washington is offering to help guard these resources if there is a deal with Russia to end the war.
**Previous Deal Controversy**
A previous deal was proposed by the US, but it did not offer any security guarantees to Ukraine. The agreement was called “a colonial agreement” by a former Ukrainian official. President Trump had also claimed that Kyiv had agreed to a $500 billion resource deal, which was later disputed.
**New Deal Proposal**
The White House sent Ukraine a new version of the deal on February 20. However, it is not clear what the terms of this new deal are.
The US has modified its proposal earlier this week. The original deal did not include any security guarantees for Ukraine.
**Ukraine’s President Speaks Out**
President Zelensky said in an address that negotiations were ongoing and Ukraine was looking for a “just result”. He also stated that the key to strengthening relations with the US is to work out the details of the deal.
**Pressure on President Zelensky**
Some officials are reportedly pressuring Zelensky to agree to the deal. US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said that Zelensky would sign the minerals deal “in the very short term”.
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