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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to journalists during press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 26, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AP
A framework economic deal with the United States is ready, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday (February 26, 2025), but security guarantees that Kyiv views as vital remain to be decided and a full agreement could hinge on talks in Washington as early as Friday (February 28, 2025).
The framework deal is a first step toward a comprehensive agreement that will be subject to ratification by Ukraine’s parliament, Mr. Zelenskyy said during a news conference in Kyiv.
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Ukraine needs to know where the United States stands on its continued military support, Mr. Zelenskyy said.
He said expects to have a wide-ranging substantive conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump during a visit to Washington.
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“I want to coordinate with the U.S.,” Mr. Zelenskyy said.
Mr. Zelenskyy said that the main topics that he wants to discuss with Trump are whether the U.S. plans to halt military aid and, if so, whether Ukraine would be able to purchase weapons directly from the U.S.
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He also wants to know whether Ukraine can use frozen Russian assets for weapons investments and whether Washington plans to lift sanctions on Russia.
Earlier, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed that Ukraine and the United States have reached preliminary agreement on a broad economic deal that includes U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals amid its war with Russia.
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After days of negotiations, Ukraine and the U.S. will sign the preliminary agreement, but with further details of a full agreement — including U.S. security guarantees that Kyiv officials view as vital — still to be worked out, Mr. Shmyhal said on Ukrainian public television.
Since returning to office last month, Mr. Trump let Ukraine know that he wanted something in return for tens of billions of dollars in U.S. help to fend off the full-scale invasion that Russia launched just over three years ago on February 24, 2022.
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Mr. Trump has abruptly ditched some previous Washington policies. He scrapped efforts to isolate Russian President Vladimir Putin and cast doubt on U.S. support for its European allies. That has brought momentous geopolitical shifts that could reset the war’s path this year.
The preliminary agreement sets out the terms and conditions of an investment fund for the rebuilding of Ukraine, Mr. Shmyhal said.
Published – February 26, 2025 07:56 pm IST
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Zelenskyy says framework economic deal with U.S. is ready but security guarantees undecided
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