**Ukrainian Lawmakers Fail to Summon Ministers Over US Minerals Deal**
On February 27, Ukrainian lawmakers failed to secure enough votes to summon the prime minister and economy minister for questioning over a minerals agreement with the United States. The deal was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on February 26.
The agreement establishes a fund in which Ukraine will contribute 50% of the proceeds from the monetization of state-owned mineral resources, including oil, gas, and logistics infrastructure. The final version of the agreement excludes revenue streams already contributing to Ukraine’s budget and drops a US demand for a $500 billion claim over Ukraine’s resources.
**Deal Expected to Be Signed in Washington**
The deal is expected to be signed on February 28 in Washington. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that he will meet with US President Donald Trump to finalize the deal.
However, a proposal to summon Prime Minister Shmyhal and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko for questioning over the deal fell short, with only 138 lawmakers voting in favor of summoning the prime minister and 125 supporting a hearing for the economy minister.
**Russia-Ukraine Conflict Updates**
In other news, President Zelensky thanked Ireland for its support of Ukrainians who fled Russia’s full-scale invasion. Ukrainian forces have made gains against Russian troops, with some areas reportedly showing “physical, moral, and material exhaustion”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that some Western countries are dissatisfied with the restoration of Russian-American relations and want to create instability in the world.
**France and Ukraine Discuss Mineral Use**
France has been discussing the use of Ukrainian minerals for its defense industry since October 2024. Russia’s Defense Ministry claims that its troops continue to advance and push Ukrainian forces out of a salient.
**Ukraine Cracks Down on Foreign Banks**
Ukrainian banking law requires foreign banks to open a local branch or obtain a banking license to operate in the country. A press release from the bank stated that this process must first be approved by the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU).
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