**US and Ukraine to Sign New Minerals Deal**
The US has proposed a new “major” minerals deal with Ukraine. This is based on a previous framework agreement between the two countries.
US President Donald Trump said he expects to sign the deal soon. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not give any timelines for signing.
**Changes from Previous Deal**
The new version of the deal does not include a clause about Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. This is different from the previous agreement, which mentioned that the US would own a Ukrainian power plant.
Zelensky said he had discussed with Trump the possibility of US assistance in restoring the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is currently under Russian occupation.
**Previous Agreements**
The initial version of the minerals deal would have established a fund to which Ukraine would contribute 50% of proceeds from the future profits of extracting state-owned resources. However, Ukraine rejected this agreement because it lacked concrete security guarantees.
A final deal was approved by Kyiv and did not provide security assurances but did include a line that says the fund “will be reinvested at least annually in Ukraine to promote the safety, security and prosperity of Ukraine.”
**Current Conflict**
Ukraine is currently fighting against Russian forces. The conflict has led to devastating missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Zelensky said that the new deal does not provide a clear timeline for implementing a ceasefire agreement. He emphasized that this depends on orders given by the presidents to their military forces.
**International Response**
The US and Russia are discussing a possible ceasefire deal in the Black Sea. However, Russia has not agreed to implement any of these agreements yet.
A Paris summit will be held on March 27 to discuss Ukraine’s post-war security with coalition members. The summit will bring together Germany, Poland, the UK, and other member states who have pledged support for Ukraine’s security.
**Public Opinion**
Some 77% of Ukrainians view a proposed 30-day truce positively. However, this is still in the discussion phase and has not been implemented yet.