Reuters reports that Ukraine has announced that Kyiv and Washington have signed a memorandum, a preliminary step toward concluding an agreement on developing Ukraine's mineral resources.
Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Sviridenko wrote on her social media page: "We are pleased to announce that we have signed a Memorandum of Intent with our American partners. It paves the way for the Economic Partnership Agreement and establishing the Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund."
The Ukrainian delegation traveled to Washington last weekend for talks as the Trump administration proposed a new, more comprehensive deal. The initial framework agreement, on which agreement was once reached, has never been signed.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said: "We have a deal on mineral resources, which I believe will be approved on Thursday."
Trump is pushing for an agreement that would allow the US preferential access to Ukraine's natural resources and essential minerals as "payment" for military aid provided by Washington to Ukraine during Joe Biden's presidency.
