Ukraine has agreed on a crucial minerals deal with the US after the Trump administration dropped key demands.
The draft agreement, however, does not specify any US security guarantees or continued flow of weapons but says that the US wants Ukraine to be free, sovereign and secure, Reuters reported, citing sources.
Kyiv hopes the deal, which will see a fund established between the two countries as they jointly develop Ukraine’s mineral resources, according to the Financial Times, will boost its faltering relationship with Washington.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky plans to visit Washington on Friday to meet Mr Trump after the terms were agreed.
The US dropped Mr Trump’s demand for $500bn in potential revenue from Ukrainian resources, a condition which was rejected out-of-hand by the Ukrainian president.
Included in the deal was a US commitment to back Ukraine’s economic development into the future. Deputy prime minister Olha Stefanishyna told the FT: “The minerals agreement is only part of the picture. We have heard multiple times from the US administration that it’s part of a bigger picture.”
Key Points
- Zelensky strikes mineral deal with US sans security guarantees
- Russia detains daughter of Ukrainian literary scholar
- Zelensky plans to travel to Washington on Friday to meet Trump
- Russia says Ukraine launched drone attack on Tuapse
- What has been agreed in the Ukraine-US minerals deal?
Zelensky okays mineral deal with US sans security guarantees
05:39
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The US and Ukraine have agreed on the terms of a draft minerals deal central to Kyiv's push to win Washington's support as president Donald Trump seeks to rapidly end the war with Russia.
The draft agreement, however, does not specify any US security guarantees or continued flow of weapons but says that the US wants Ukraine to be free, sovereign and secure, Reuters reported citing sources.
One of the sources familiar with the deal said future weapons shipments are still being discussed between Washington and Kyiv.
Mr Trump told reporters that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky wants to come to Washington on Friday to sign a "very big deal".
This came after the two leaders exchanged hostile words last week.
The Ukrainian Zelensky refused to sign an earlier draft of a minerals agreement as Washington sought rights to $500bn in Ukraine's natural wealth.
Kyiv protested it had received far less than that in US aid and the deal lacked the security guarantees Ukraine needed.
Latvia's foreign minister issues warning
06:41
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Latvia's foreign minister has issued warnings that Russian president Vladimir Putin will try to achieve in peace talks what he hasn't been able to accomplish in his war against Ukraine — weaken the US and restore control over his smaller neighbour.
Baiba Braze told the Associated Press on Tuesday during a week of intense diplomacy between Europe and the US following president Donald Trump's upending of US policy with his decision to hold direct talks with Russia, while excluding Ukraine and its European allies from the initial discussions.
Ms Braze notes that Russia, with a population of 140 million, has managed to gain control of less than 20 per cent of Ukraine, population of 40 million, since it seized Crimea in 2014 and launched its full-scale invasion in March 2022.
So, when it comes to seeking peace, "I think the difficulty is with the Russians, because Russians are the ones who want to weaken US power, and who want to weaken the US in the world overall," she said.
One killed in Russian drone attack
06:16
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
An overnight Russian drone attack on the Kyiv region killed one person, injured at least four and set several houses on fire, said Mykola Kalashnyk, governor of the region.
The body of a civilian was found in a residential house that caught fire as a result of the attack, Kalashnyk wrote in a post on Telegram. "My condolences to the family and loved ones," he said.
He said that at least four other people in the region were injured overnight and at least five homes and two multi-storey residential buildings were damaged in the attacks.
The Independent Debate | Keir Starmer’s plan to send British troops to Ukraine divides opinion
06:01
,
Jabed Ahmed
Readers are split on the prime minister’s proposals for a European ‘reassurance force’, debating Britain's military readiness, war escalation risks, and the UK’s duty to counter Russia
The conversation isn’t over. To join in, all you need to do is register your details, then you can take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking ‘log in’ on the top right-hand corner of the screen.
Breaking: One killed in Russian drone attack
05:50
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
One person was killed and two injured in a Russian overnight drone attack in Ukraine's capital region of Kyiv.
Why does Trump want Ukraine's rare earth minerals?
05:00
,
Jabed Ahmed
The US is pushing for a deal that would grant it 50 per cent of Ukraine’s revenues from critical minerals, oil, gas, and stakes in key infrastructure, such as ports, through a joint investment fund.
The details of the draft offer reportedly guarantee Ukrainian sovereigntywhich had been an issue with earlier Trump proposals. These had said nothing about the future security for Ukraine but demanded it raise $500bn in payback for money spent by the US in defence of the country.
Ukraine is sitting on one of Europe’s largest deposits of critical minerals, including lithium and titanium, much of which is untapped. According to the Institute of Geology, Ukraine possesses rare earth elements such as lanthanum and cerium, used in TVs and lighting; neodymium, used in wind turbines and EV batteries; and erbium and yttrium, whose applications range from nuclear power to lasers. The EU-funded research also indicates that Ukraine has scandium reserves but detailed data is classified.
Mr Zelensky has been trying to develop these resources, estimated to be worth more than £12 trillion, based on figures provided by Forbes Ukraine, for years.
Anticipating the notoriously transactional Mr Trump might take an interest in this, Mr Zelensky then placed the mining of these minerals into his victory plan, which was drawn up last year.
Russia reiterates opposition to EU troops in Ukraine
04:59
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Russia has reiterated its objection to the potential deployment of European peacekeepers to Ukraine, a day after US president Donald Trump claimed Moscow would be open to such a move.
Kremlin spokesperson Dimitry Peskov yesterday refrained from publicly contradicting Mr Trump, but reaffirmed Russia’s opposition to the idea.
“There is a position on this matter that was expressed by the Russian foreign minister Lavrov. I have nothing to add to this and nothing to comment on. I leave this without comment,” he said.
Moscow has repeatedly opposed having Nato troops on Ukrainian soil, calling it a "direct threat" to Russia’s sovereignty.
Mr Trump on Monday claimed that Russian president Vladimir Putin had accepted the idea of European peacekeepers in Ukraine.
“Yeah, he will accept that,” Mr Trump said. “I specifically asked him that question. He has no problem with it."
Russia says Ukraine launches drone attack on Tuapse
04:44
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Ukraine launched an overnight drone attack on Russia's southern Krasnodar region, damaging several houses including in the Black Sea port of Tuapse, Russian officials said.
Three residential houses were damaged throughout the region, but there were no immediate reports of injuries, governor Veniamin Kondratyev said in a post on Telegram
.A house in Tuapse caught fire but that has since been extinguished, Sergei Boiko, head of the Tuapse municipality, said.
Russia's SHOT news Telegram channel reported that Ukrainian drones appeared to be aimed at the port area and that residents heard about 40 explosions in what they said sounded like air defence systems in operation.
Trump says Ukraine started the war with Russia
04:30
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The top Republican in the U.S. Senate broke with the Trump administration on the question of who started the war in Ukraine.
On Monday, the United States voted against a resolution backed by 93 nations that condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. In doing so, the U.S. found itself on the same side as Russia, North Korea and Belarus. Previously, Donald Trump has said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is responsible for starting the war.
But Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters he was not sure why the U.S. voted the way it did at the United Nations.
Eric Garcia reports.
In pics: Ukrainian rescuers at the site where a Russian shock drone struck Kyiv
04:20
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Watch | Starmer says 'Russia is a menace in our waters'
04:00
,
Jabed Ahmed
Lammy says it is time to seize Russian assets
03:59
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Europe should move from freezing Russian assets to seizing them, British foreign minister David Lammy said, hardening Britain's position on how the West should use bonds and other securities frozen since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
After Russian president Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, the US and its allies prohibited transactions with Russia's central bank and finance ministry, blocking $300-$350bn of sovereign Russian assets.
European leaders want to use those assets to help rebuild Ukraine, but have yet to reach an agreement on how to avoid legal challenges or setting a problematic international precedent, with several options under consideration.
"Europe has to act quickly, and I believe we should move from freezing assets to seizing assets," Mr Lammy told parliament when asked if he would support emergency legislation to seize and repurpose the assets to support Ukraine."It's not an issue on which any government can act alone. We must act with European allies."
Russia detains daughter of Ukrainian literary scholar
03:14
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Authorities in Russia have detained Ukrainian film critic Ekaterina Barabash in Moscow, according to her family and local reports.
Ms Barabash is the daughter of late Ukrainian literary scholar and Shevchenko Prize laureate Yuriy Barabash, Kyiv Independent reported.
It appears she was detained because of her work in the Russian publication, Republic, which was added to the foreign agent media register and banned in 2022, shortly after Moscow invaded Ukraine.
Russia is working on new children exchange with Ukraine - report
03:01
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Moscow is working on bringing 16 children to Russia from Ukraine and plans to reunite 10 children with relatives in Ukraine, Russia's presidential commissioner for children's rights told RIA agency.
"We have a clear presidential mandate that we work only with full-fledged legal representatives, that is, relatives, parents who have legal force and can take care of their children," commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova said.
She said that through those channels, at the moment 95 children have been reunited with their relatives in Ukraine, and 17 children have returned to Russia.
Moscow and Kyiv have carried out several exchanges of children for reunification with their families since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Charted | Britain's current defence spending
03:00
,
Jabed Ahmed
Watch | Starmer hikes defence spending to 2.5% ahead of crunch meeting with Trump
02:00
,
Jabed Ahmed
The Independent View | America’s siding with tyrannical dictatorships is a step too far
01:00
,
Jabed Ahmed
Editorial: In voting to reject a United Nation resolution condemning Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine – alongside three undemocratic regimes – Donald Trump’s desire to be a global renegade is clear. It a turning point that must be faced up to, in all its enormity
Ukraine war briefing: NATO planes scrambled over Poland after Putin launches missile and drone attack in western Ukraine
Tuesday 25 February 2025 23:59
,
Jabed Ahmed
Follow updates from the frontline in Ukraine below:
Full report | Starmer hikes defence spending to 2.5% ahead of crunch meeting with Trump
Tuesday 25 February 2025 23:00
,
Jabed Ahmed
Keir Starmer bows to Trump pressure and increases UK defence spending by slashing foreign aid
Tuesday 25 February 2025 22:45
,
Alex Croft
Sir Keir Starmer has bowed to pressure from Donald Trump to boost defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by slashing foreign aid.
The announcement came just 24 hours before the prime minister flies to Washington DC for his first meeting with the US president since the inauguration last month.
It comes at a time when the White House is piling pressure on European allies in Nato to massively increase their own share of the cost of defence as Mr Trump appears to be on the verge of turning his back on Ukraine.
The announcement to a stunned parliament has been condemned by senior Labour figures, including former foreign secretary David Miliband and aid charities, who have accused Sir Keir of “abandoning the poorest in the world”.
David Maddox and Kate Devlin report:
Trump’s new axis of friendly dictators is a threat to US allies – and decades of joint intelligence
Tuesday 25 February 2025 22:29
,
Alex Croft
World affairs editor Sam Kiley reports:
Policies can drift and diplomacy meander. As great powers try to resolve wars and conflicts, obfuscation and sleight of hand are inevitable and sometimes essential. But when a great power changes sides in the halls of the United Nations, it’s not a play – but a betrayal of their allies.
On Monday, the United States abandoned the United Kingdom, France and the whole of the European Union to vote alongside Russia, North Korea and Israel at the UN’s General Assembly.
The conclusion is that, under the presidency of Donald Trump, the US cannot be considered an ally of other Western democracies and must now be treated as a potential foe.
In the world of espionage, he has been seen as a liability since he was last elected president in 2016.
How monitoring Trump's blood sugar may have helped Kyiv in minerals negotiations
Tuesday 25 February 2025 22:15
,
Alex Croft
World affairs editor Sam Kiley writes:
Last year, according to sources, the UK put considerable effort into trying to figure out Trump’s diet and to predict when his blood sugar was low because it was believed he could be most aggressive and anti-Ukraine when hungry.
Diplomats and ministers were carefully guided to try to engage him to think positively about Ukraine in these low-sugar moments.
Similarly Trump is widely seen as easy to offend, quick to fire off insults, but deeply susceptible to the need to feel that he has “won” at least part of any argument.
So while Zelensky has so far rejected the mineral deal and refused to cede rights to profits that would flow to the US for many generations, his deputy prime minister and other officials have been signalling that at least some kind of deal may be imminent.
Ukraine war briefing: One dead and children injured in Russian attack on Kramatorsk
Tuesday 25 February 2025 22:01
,
Alex Croft
Three years on from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, deadly attacks and drone strikes continue on a daily basis.
More than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed since the beginning of the war, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, and tens of thousands more injured.
A recent US diplomatic blitz on the war has sent Kyiv and key allies scrambling to ensure a seat at the table amid concerns that Washington and Moscow could press ahead with a deal that won’t be favourable to them.
With Ukraine left on the outside looking in, the war-torn country’s citizens continue to deal with the reality of a war that is very much still ongoing.
Jabed Ahmed provides the latest frontline updates:
What had Trump previously demanded?
Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:49
,
Alex Croft
US president Donald Trump previously demanded half the revenue from Ukraine’s minerals and veto rights over licencing in return for providing security guarantees in the event of a peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv, according to a report of leaked documents.
He also wanted $500 billion of profits made from the Ukraine’s mineral resources - a demand which has reportedly been dropped in the deal.
Trump previously said he wants Ukraine to pay for financial and military support by affording Washington access to the country’s vast but untapped rare earth minerals.
However, documents which emerged last week show a deal between the two countries could expand US access to Ukraine’s ports, infrastructure, oil and gas.
Did 'toddler management' of Trump help secure minerals deal for Ukraine?
Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:37
,
Alex Croft
World affairs editor Sam Kiley writes:
It appeared to have been an act of silliness. A deputy Ukrainian prime minister getting ahead of herself by tweeting, and then untweeting, the dramatic news that her country was about to sign a gigantic minerals deal with the Trump administration.
Rather than a blunder, it may have been a masterful moment in what some officials are calling “toddler management”.
There is a rapidly evolving pan-European effort to gently massage Donald Trump’s ego as talks between Europe, US Ukraine and Russia reach a crucial stage.
Kyiv and Washington appear to have struck a deal for Ukraine’s mineral resources.
It comes a day after Olha Stefanishyna said that Ukraine was committed to a deal that has previously been reported to give the US a staggering stake in the profits from Ukraine’s minerals.
What are Ukraine’s rare earths?
Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:24
,
Alex Croft
Ukraine is sitting on one of Europe’s largest deposits of critical minerals, including lithium and titanium, much of which is untapped.
According to the Institute of Geology, Ukraine possesses rare earth elements such as lanthanum and cerium, used in TVs and lighting; neodymium, used in wind turbines and EV batteries; and erbium and yttrium, whose applications range from nuclear power to lasers.
The EU-funded research also indicates that Ukraine has scandium reserves but detailed data is classified.
Mr Zelensky has been trying to develop these resources, estimated to be worth more than £12 trillion, based on figures provided by Forbes Ukraine, for years.
Ukraine offers mineral deal to US as olive branch to Donald Trump
Tuesday 25 February 2025 21:12
,
Alex Croft
Donald Trump would like the world to know he’s a man about big deals and big ideas.
Last week he announced he was negotiating an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine – but without involving Ukraine in the deliberations. He then labelled the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator” for good measure.
This week he hosted a bromance press conference with President Emmanuel Macron of France. Hours later, the US sided with Russia, China and North Korea in the UN.
It has been as unpredictable as ever, but one thing has remained constant – and that is Trump’s desire to get US hands on Ukraine’s very valuable mineral resources as a way to recoup “hundreds of billions of dollars of American taxpayers’ money” spent supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia.
Alex Hannaford writes:
Zelensky plans to travel to Washington on Friday to meet Trump
Tuesday 25 February 2025 20:55
,
Alex Croft
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky plans to travel to Washington on Friday to meet US president Donald Trump, according to Reuters.
The pair would likely sign an deal which has reportedly been agreed on Ukrainian minerals.
Mr Trump hinted that a visit from Mr Zelensky was possible. saying on Monday according to Bloomberg: "I will be meeting with President Zelensky.
“In fact, he may come in this week or next week to sign the agreement, which would be nice. I'd love to meet him. We'd meet at the Oval Office."
What has reportedly been agreed in the Ukraine-US minerals deal?
Tuesday 25 February 2025 20:35
,
Alex Croft
Details of the minerals deal reportedly agreed by the US and Ukraine have been emerging.
The deal is just a “framework agreement” and no revenues will change hands until negotiations are finalised.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s government will need to gain approval from parliament to agree the deal.
Here are some of the key details of what has been agreed so far, as reported by the Financial Times:
- A fund would be established in which Ukraine would contribute 50 per cent of proceeds from “future monetisation” of state-owned mineral resources such as oil and gas. It would invest in Ukrainian projects.
- It does not include resources already contributing to Kyiv’s supplies, therefore not covering the existing activities of Ukraine’s largest gas and oil producers, Naftogaz or Ukrnafta.
- The agreement does not reference any US security guarantees which Kyiv had previously insisted on
- It does not specify the size of the US stake or any terms of the “joint ownership” deals which will be agreed in future negotiations.
- The agreement says the US will back future economic development in Ukraine.
- states the US will back Ukraine’s economic development into the future.
Kyiv and Washington agree minerals deal after US drops demands - report
Tuesday 25 February 2025 20:22
,
Alex Croft
Ukraine has agreed a minerals deal with the US after the Trump administration dropped some of its toughest demands, the Financial Times has reported.
Kyiv hopes the agreement will improve relations with the US and Ukrainian officials say they are now ready to sign the agreement.
The US has dropped Donald Trump’s demand for $500 billion in potential revenue from Ukrainian mineral resources.
Ukrainian officials argued to the FT that they had secured favourable terms, in a deal which would see Kyiv and Washington jointly develop Ukraine’s mineral resources, including oil and gas.
Olha Stefanishyna, the deputy prime minister who has led the negotiations, told the outlet: “The minerals agreement is only part of the picture. We have heard multiple times from the US administration that it’s part of a bigger picture.”
Russia says latest UK sanctions 'illegitimate'
Tuesday 25 February 2025 20:19
,
Alex Croft
Russia's embassy in London has said Britain's new package of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine was "illegitimate" and many of those targeted had no connection to the conflict.
On Monday the foreign secretary announced what it said was its largest package of sanctions against Russia since the early days of the war in Ukraine, including companies worldwide that supply components used by the Russian military.
The Russian embassy called the measures "futile" in a statement posted on Facebook on Tuesday.
"The moment chosen by London to whip up the sanctions hysteria is quite symbolic — at a delicate time when the foundations of the future Ukraine settlement process are being shaped in line with the Russia-US agreements," the statement said.
Britain's sanctions package, timed to mark the third anniversary of the Russian invasion, also targeted North Korea's defence minister No Kwang Chol over the deployment of North Korean forces in Russia, and Kyrgyzstan-based Keremet Bank.
Keir Starmer’s plan to send British troops to Ukraine divides opinion
Tuesday 25 February 2025 20:01
,
Alex Croft
Sir Keir Starmer’s proposal to deploy British troops to Ukraine as part of a European “reassurance force” has sparked strong reactions among Independent readers.
The plan, developed with France, would see troops stationed in key locations — such as cities, ports, and nuclear sites — focusing on intelligence gathering and airspace monitoring rather than frontline combat.
However, Kremlin officials have condemned the proposal, warning that any Nato presence in Ukraine would be seen as a direct threat.
Many readers opposed Sir Keir’s idea, arguing that Britain’s military is already overstretched and underfunded. Some insisted that no deployment should take place without a major increase in defence spending, while others feared that even a limited presence could escalate tensions and risk a wider war.
Read your responses to the proposal:
Kyiv's cabinet to recommend minerals deal on Wednesday
Tuesday 25 February 2025 19:46
,
Alexander Butler
The Ukrainian cabinet is set to recommend a rare earth mineral deal for approval on Wednesday, Bloomberg reported.
US president Donald Trump has demanded preferential access to around $500bn of Ukraine’s rare earth minerals as repayment for his country’s military support under Biden.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the idea last week as “not serious”, claiming it did not provide any security guarantees for Ukraine.
ICYMI: The West has not done enough to support Ukraine, says Badenoch
Tuesday 25 February 2025 19:43
,
Alex Croft
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said the West has “not done enough to support Ukraine” in remarks made following the prime minister’s speech.
The Conservative Party “stands resolutely” with the Ukrainian people, she said, adding that it is up to Ukrainians to “decide their future”.
Ms Badenoch added: “We want this terrible war to end but Ukraine needs to be at the negotiating table and, like President Zelensky, we hope for a lasting, viable peace but the West must continue to be intensely robust in the face of Putin’s aggression.
“The lesson of the last 20 years is clear: he only comes back for more.”
She also welcomed Sir Keir’s announcement that defence spending would rise to 2.5 per cent by 2027.
Starmer slams accusation he is ‘Farage in disguise’ over defence spending increase
Tuesday 25 February 2025 19:25
,
Alex Croft
Watch the full exchange:
Watch: Starmer slams Farage for fawning over Putin
Tuesday 25 February 2025 19:07
,
Alex Croft
'Day of shame': Charities condemn Starmer's slash to foreign aid spending
Tuesday 25 February 2025 18:50
,
Alex Croft
Humanitarian charities said they were "stunned" and "appalled" by the Labour government’s decision to cut its international aid budget to boost defence spending.
They warned it would damage UK influence and have a devastating impact on the countries the charities support.
David Miliband, former foreign secretary and now head of the International Rescue Committee charity, said the move was "a blow to Britain's proud reputation as a global humanitarian and development leader".
Nick Dearden, director of campaign group Global Justice Now, said: "To appease Trump, he will cut aid to its lowest level in a generation. It is a day of shame for Britain."
United Nations children's agency UNICEF said the British aid cut would "undoubtedly risk lives", while Oxfam accused Sir Keir of "bending to populist pressures".
Sir Keir’s Labour government had previously pledged to restore the aid budget back to 0.7 per cent from 0.5 per cent. Instead, it will be cut to 0.3 per cent.
Senior Tories attack Trump after US sides with China, North Korea and Russia
Tuesday 25 February 2025 18:34
,
Alex Croft
Donald Trump is risking world peace by siding with North Korea, China and Belarus in refusing to condemn Vladimir Putin, senior Tories have claimed.
In a chilling warning, former deputy prime minster Michael Heseltine said the US president risks forming a “new axis” which will reward Russia and its allies.
Lord Heseltine spoke out after the Trump administration, alongside the three dictatorships, rejected a UN resolution against Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. The resolution was backed by Europe and most other nations.
The vote came just hours before French president Emmanuel Macron had visited Trump in the White House and ahead of Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to Washington later this week.
David Maddox and Alexander Butler report:
Zelensky is becoming 'toxic' in Ukraine, says Putin
Tuesday 25 February 2025 18:16
,
Alex Croft
Russian president Vladimir Putin has accused Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky of becoming a “toxic” figure in Ukraine.
“He gives absurd orders dictated not by military considerations but by political considerations, and it is unclear what these are based on,” the autocrat, who ordered the illegal invasion of Ukraine three years ago yesterday, told Russian state-controlled TV.
“This leads to unjustifiably large losses, if not to say very large or catastrophic losses for the Ukrainian army,” he added.
“He is becoming toxic for society as a whole, and this is also indicated by today’s vote, as I think, in the Ukrainian Rada on the extension of his authority.”
