Ukraine, US to sign minerals deal on February 28

Ukraine may sign a mineral resources agreement with the United States on the development of its reserves on February 28 in Washington, AFP noted citing sources, Report informs via TASS.

According to them, government officials are now working on the details, and plan to visit Washington on Friday to sign the agreement.

The sources added that the deal includes a clause on "security" but does not mention the US contribution to Ukraine's defense.

"There is a general clause that says America will invest in a stable and prosperous sovereign Ukraine, that it works for a lasting peace, and that America supports efforts to guarantee security," an official told the agency.

The Financial Times said, citing the final draft agreement, that Ukraine had agreed to the minerals deal with the US after the administration abandoned its requirement for Ukraine to contribute about $500 billion to the investment fund.

The document dated February 24, which the newspaper obtained, fails to mention security guarantees for Ukraine, which Kyiv listed as one of the conditions for the deal.