Ukraine: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that a new US proposal regarding access to Ukraine’s critical minerals greatly differs from an earlier draft presented by Washington. At a press briefing, Zelenskyy stated that the revised proposal, formally submitted to his office, will be carefully reviewed and compared with prior versions discussed between Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko and US officials.
Zelenskyy stated that, “The framework has been changed. Let us study this framework, and then we can talk.” The Ukrainian leader also clarified that Kyiv does not recognise previously approved US military aid as loans that require repayment.
He asserted that, “We are grateful for the support, but this is not a credit, and we will not allow it to be treated as such,” though he did not specify whether the latest US proposal contained such a stipulation.
Zelenskyy faces a diplomatic challenge in guiding the new terms, particularly following a rift with US President Donald Trump last month, which led to Washington cutting off military aid and halting intelligence-sharing with Ukraine. The diplomatic landscape has become increasingly complex, with Trump pushing to end the war with Russia and shifting US policy toward aligning with Moscow’s narrative on the conflict.
Addressing the possibility of negotiations with Russia, Zelenskyy maintained that Ukraine is open to dialogue with Russian representatives who present a credible plan to end the war but ruled out any direct talks with President Vladimir Putin.
Zelenskyy’s remarks come in response to a controversial proposal from Putin, who suggested that Ukraine be placed under external governance as a step toward a peace settlement. The Russian president argued that Zelenskyy, whose term officially expired last year, lacks the legitimacy to sign any peace agreement.
Putin suggested that temporary external oversight—potentially under the United Nations, the United States, European countries, and Russia’s allies—could encourage new elections and install a government capable of negotiating a peace treaty.
Putin stated that, “This would allow Ukraine to hold democratic elections, bring to power a viable government that enjoys the trust of the people, and then begin negotiations,” describing external governance as “one of the options.”
However, UN Secretary-General António Guterres dismissed the idea, reaffirming Ukraine’s sovereignty, stating that, “Ukraine has a legitimate government, and so obviously that must be respected.”
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