**US and Ukraine Reach Agreement on Critical Minerals**
The US and Ukraine have reached an agreement on Ukraine’s critical minerals and natural resources. This was announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office on February 25.
According to the agreement, Ukraine will get “military equipment and the right to fight on,” said US President Donald Trump. The deal also gives Ukraine billions of dollars in aid and “lots of equipment.” However, it is unclear if this refers to future or past military aid packages from the US.
**No Security Guarantees**
The agreement does not give Ukraine any security guarantees. Instead, it allows the US to “recoup” the funds it has granted to Ukraine over the past three years in aid packages. The US will get 50% of revenues from the future monetization of Ukraine’s state-owned mineral resources.
**Trump Open to Deal with Russia**
US President Trump said that he is open to striking a deal on critical minerals with Russia. He stated that Russia has valuable land and rare earth minerals, which could be beneficial for both countries.
However, it is unclear if this will happen soon. Russian President Vladimir Putin had already announced on February 24 that Moscow was open to working with foreign partners on developing rare earth metal deposits, including in occupied regions of Ukraine.
**EU and US Offers**
The EU has offered Ukraine its own deal on the country’s natural resources. This deal is described as “mutually beneficial” and a “win-win partnership.” However, it is unclear if this will be accepted by Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the US has shifted away from Europe and Ukraine, reducing its security commitments to the region. This has led to increased spending in the UK on defense, with a proposal for the largest sustained increase since the end of the Cold War.
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