What is in the US-Ukraine minerals deal?
Al Jazeera
A new investment fund is to be established to help with post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.
After months of tense negotiations – including one particularly fiery meeting in the White House Oval Office between United States President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February – Washington and Kyiv have finalised a long-awaited minerals deal.
The agreement, signed in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, will give the US preferential access to new Ukrainian minerals and natural resources licences. In return, the US will provide financial and military assistance to Ukraine to help the country rebuild after the war.
The deal comes at a critical moment as the US had threatened to step away from its mediation effort to bring an end to the more than three-year conflict.
Trump, who has heavily promoted the deal, said it represents “payback” for the $350bn that he claims Washington has spent on supporting Ukraine’s war effort.
It is unclear how Trump has arrived at the figure of $350bn. Official figures from the US Department of Defense put total spending on Ukraine at $182.8bn between January 2022 and December 2024.
Trump’s top economic adviser is odds-on favourite to lead the Fed amid concerns over the central bank’s independence.
Russian and US negotiators met in Moscow for almost five hours but there are no signs of any breakthrough.
NGO documents accounts of atrocities during paramilitary force’s April assault on the North Darfur facility.
Comments come after long meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and two senior US officials in Moscow.
Legal experts say there is no basis in the US Constitution for a president to revoke pardons.
Congresswoman Omar calls Trump’s comments about her ‘creepy’ after the US president launches into an anti-Somali tirade.
US is pushing for a non-aggression pact between Israel, Syria, but Netanyahu has shown little appetite for compromise.
Talks to take place in Moscow amid renewed diplomatic push to end long-running war.
PM Modi said he wants those who can’t afford shoes to be able to fly. But shrinking competition is killing that hope.
Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov said Russian forces have also captured the city of Vovchansk in Kharkiv.
Samar and Abdulrahman had everything ready for their baby. But rains ruined their plans, as they try to survive in Gaza.
US military build-up near Venezuela raises fearof invasion; White House defends kill order of alleged drug smugglers.
Donald Trump warns against actions that could ‘interfere with Syria’s evolution’ amid new Israeli incursion, strikes.