Ukraine and US have agreed on a framework minerals deal, officials say

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00:00It's been a central part of Donald Trump's plan for a peace treaty. How much access to

00:07Ukraine's rare minerals can he get Kiev to grant Washington?

00:14The answer for now is confidential, but it would appear that the final deal is worth

00:18less than the $500 billion worth of minerals that were previously requested by the United

00:23States after the US reportedly dropped its toughest demands.

00:28A senior Ukrainian official speaking on condition of anonymity said a joint fund between the

00:34two countries would be created and that lawmakers are working out the details of the deal.

00:41An agreement that could be signed as early as this Friday, which would see Volodymyr

00:45Zelensky meet Donald Trump at the White House.

00:50The minerals would be payback for the financial aid that the United States has provided to

00:54Ukraine to defend itself against the Russian army.

00:58The agreement comes a day after Emmanuel Macron met Donald Trump in Washington, and the Ukrainian

01:04president thanked his European allies for siding with him.

01:09We deeply appreciate that our partners are not only continuing their support but also

01:14increasing it, helping us to achieve peace sooner. This peace must be just and ensure

01:20that an invasion never happens again.

01:24A minerals deal is a chance for the United States, if it can successfully extract them,

01:30to reduce its dependence on China.

01:33Ukraine's reserves include critical materials such as graphite and lithium, which are used

01:37for batteries, as well as rare earth metals used in a wide array of industries, from aeroplane

01:43engines to computer screens.

01:51Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, said that he was open to offering the United States access

01:55to minerals in Russia, as well as in the lands that it occupies in eastern Ukraine.

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