Ukraine is making "substantial progress" on a landmark minerals deal with the US, its Deputy Prime Minister has said despite Donald Trump dismissing a fresh request to buy American missiles.
The bilateral talks on a minerals deal are rolling on well with the two countries set to sign a memorandum in the near future, First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said yesterday.
"Our technical teams have worked very thoroughly together on the agreement, and there is significant progress. Our legal staff has adjusted several items within the draft agreement," Svyrydenko wrote on social media.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's Deputy Economy Minister Taras Kachka said a provisional document could be signed very soon - but not this week.
The US and Ukraine are poised to sign a minerals deal in the near future
GETTY
"A final document won't be signed this week. There is a lot of work to be done," Kachka said.
Trump has not allocated any new aid packages for Ukraine since retaking the White House, and briefly paused Biden-era military assistance last month to pressure Kyiv into accepting the minerals deal.
And the President has also cast aside Volodymyr Zelensky's request to buy a fresh set of US Patriot air defence systems, accusing the Ukrainian leader of "always looking to purchase missiles".
"You don't start a war against someone 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles," Trump said during a White House meeting on Monday.
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'You don't start a war against someone 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles,' Trump said
REUTERS"Millions of people dead because of three people," Trump added, naming Putin, Joe Biden, and Zelensky as the alleged culprits despite the fact the Ukrainian President had repeatedly called for de-escalation.
Trump also described Russia's deadly attack on Sumy, which killed 35 civilians, including two children, as "terrible" - but suggested it was a "mistake".
His comments followed Zelensky's interview with CBS News, where he offered to buy 10 US-made Patriot systems worth $1.5billion (£1.13billion) each.
"We will find the money and pay for everything," Zelensky said, and stressed Ukraine was prepared to purchase the $15billion package rather than request it for free.
LATEST ON DONALD TRUMP:
Trump said Russia's deadly attack on Sumy was a 'mistake'
REUTERSIn a slight olive branch to the Ukrainians, the US has toned down its cost estimate for assistance provided to Ukraine since Russia's 2022 invasion to about $100billion (£75billion) from $300billion (£226billion), according to Bloomberg.
But the proposed deal gives Ukraine no future security guarantees - the country is instead required to place all income from its natural resources in a joint investment fund.
Svyrydenko said the future agreement will require the sign-off of the Ukrainian Parliament, and is expected to help economic growth in both countries.
