Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa is reportedly offering a deal that would give U.S. companies access to Syria's natural wealth, reminiscent of the minerals agreement Washington recently signed with Kyiv.
Russia attacked Ukraine with drones and guided bombs during the night, targeting multiple regions after the May 12 deadline for an unconditional ceasefire expired.
"Only member states can take out loans within the 150 billion euros instrument, but they can use these funds for joint procurement with Ukraine," EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said.
"We agreed to pursue ambitious measures to reduce Russia's ability to wage war by limiting Kremlin revenues, disrupting the shadow fleet, tightening the Oil Price Cap, and reducing our remaining imports of Russian energy."
Zelensky on May 12 removed Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk from the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the top command and control body for all branches of Ukraine's defense apparatus.
Ukraine remains the most mined country in the world. Nearly one-third of Ukraine's territory, approximately 174,000 square kilometers, had been mined since Russia began its full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022.
The phone call comes as Moscow once again rejected a 30-day ceasefire, with Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova claiming that a ceasefire would give "Kyiv a break to restore its military potential and continue its confrontation with Russia."
Flight MH17 departed from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport en-route to Kuala Lumpur International Airport on July 17, 2014. Three hours into the flight, the Boeing-777 was shot down by Russian proxy forces using a Buk surface-to-air missile above Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast.
"I am grateful for the support and the readiness at the highest level to promote diplomacy," President Volodymyr Zelensky said of the phone conservation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "We share the same view on the need for a ceasefire."
The convictions mark a significant development in Britain's efforts to counter Russian intelligence operations amid heightened tensions stemming from Moscow's war against Ukraine and repeated Kremlin threats toward Kyiv's allies.
U.S. President Donald Trump during a news conference with Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, not pictured, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Feb. 4, 2025 (Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Editor's note: This story has been updated with Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers' approval of the agreement and President Volodymyr Zelensky's confirmation of the upcoming meeting.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Washington on Feb. 28 to sign a minerals agreement between the two countries.
"It's now confirmed, and we're going to be signing an agreement which will be a very big agreement," Trump said on Feb. 26 during a White House cabinet meeting.
Zelensky later confirmed the upcoming meeting with Trump, saying in his evening address that he was "preparing for talks this Friday."
Following weeks of tense negotiations, Washington and Kyiv agreed on a deal to establish a fund to which Ukraine will contribute 50% of proceeds from the "future monetization" of state-owned mineral resources, including oil, gas, and logistics infrastructure.
It excludes revenue streams already flowing into Ukraine's budget, meaning it will not impact Naftogaz and Ukrnafta, the country's largest oil and gas producers.
The final version drops earlier U.S. demands for a $500 billion claim over Ukraine's resources, which had been a major sticking point.
Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers approved the decision to sign the mineral resources agreement on Feb. 26, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.
Security guarantees, a key issue for Kyiv, are not explicitly included in the agreement but will be discussed in future negotiations, Zelensky told journalists on Feb. 26.
Zelensky also said he plans to use the meeting with Trump to ask about continued U.S. support, Washington's direct talks with Moscow, and the prospect of a broader strategy to end the war.
"I have already emphasized that it is unacceptable for us if decisions about us are made without us," he said.
The U.S. and Russia held their first direct negotiations in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18, marking the first such meeting since Moscow's full-scale invasion began.
A second round is set for Feb. 27, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov saying discussions will include the reopening of embassies.
Trump, who has repeatedly said he wants to broker a deal to end the war, suggested a ceasefire agreement was within reach.
"Most importantly, by far, we're going to make a deal with Russia and Ukraine to stop killing people," he said on Feb. 26.
Zelensky noted he hopes to get more answers from the meeting about what to expect from the United States in the near future and "what joint plan we can prepare to end this war."
The meeting comes as Trump's outreach to Moscow fuels concerns in Kyiv and among European allies. He has also escalated rhetoric against Zelensky, calling him a "dictator without elections," echoing Russian propaganda narratives.
His remarks ignore the fact that Ukraine's constitution prohibits elections during martial law, which has been in effect since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
The Kyiv Independent
