Wed Feb 26 14:26:17 UTC 2025: ## Ukraine and US Reach Preliminary Economic Deal, Security Guarantees Still Pending
**Kyiv, Ukraine (February 26, 2025)** – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced today that Ukraine and the United States have reached a framework economic agreement. However, crucial security guarantees sought by Kyiv remain unresolved, with a full agreement potentially hinging on talks between Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump in Washington as early as Friday.
The framework deal, which will require Ukrainian parliamentary ratification, paves the way for a comprehensive agreement addressing Ukraine’s economic recovery. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed that the agreement includes US access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. The deal also outlines the terms of an investment fund for rebuilding Ukraine’s infrastructure.
Zelenskyy emphasized the need for clarity on continued US military support, expressing his intention to discuss with Trump the possibility of halting US aid, alternative weapons procurement methods, utilizing frozen Russian assets for defense, and the lifting of US sanctions on Russia.
President Trump’s return to office has brought significant geopolitical shifts, including a reconsideration of previous US policies towards Russia and its allies. These changes, coupled with Trump’s stated expectation of reciprocity for US aid provided to Ukraine since the start of the war in 2022, are casting a shadow over the negotiations. The final agreement’s success depends heavily on resolving the outstanding security concerns.
First Piper 