US Presents Ukraine with Revised Minerals Agreement After Initial Rejection - Axios

The Trump administration has provided Ukraine with an improved draft of a minerals agreement after President Zelenskyy's rejection of the initial proposal led to diplomatic tensions, according to officials and sources familiar with the matter, Orda reports, citing Axios.

The initial draft, delivered before Treasury Secretary Bessent's visit to Kyiv, reportedly proposed giving 50% of mining revenues to the US and placing the agreement under New York court jurisdiction.

 Zelenskyy declined to sign immediately, citing the need for parliamentary approval.

The rejection sparked criticism from Trump, who called Zelenskyy a "dictator."

However, a more favorable draft has been presented. It addresses some of Ukraine's concerns, including removing the reported New York court jurisdiction requirement.

National Security Adviser Waltz urged Zelenskyy to "come back to the table," emphasizing the deal's importance as a security guarantee through economic partnership. The agreement concerns Ukraine's significant reserves of rare earth minerals, potentially worth trillions of dollars.

After meeting with US envoy Keith Kellogg on Thursday, Zelenskyy expressed readiness for "a strong, effective investment and security agreement" and thanked the US for its continued support.

Sources indicate that several of Zelenskyy's aides have encouraged him to sign the updated proposal.