Progress in US-Ukraine Military Aid Negotiations Amid Rising Tensions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Wednesday that negotiators are making significant progress on a minerals deal between Ukraine and the United States, according to a senior official familiar with the ongoing discussions. Reports from Agence France-Presse indicate that updated drafts of the US-Ukraine agreement do not recognize previous US military aid as a debt owed by Ukraine. This represents a shift in demands from Washington, which has previously expected Kyiv to cover the costs of military aid delivered since Russia's invasion in 2022.
"The basic legal stuff is almost finalised and if everything moves as quickly and constructively, the agreement will bring economic results to both our countries," Zelenskyy stated during his daily address. He noted that the Trump administration had previously sought a deal that would grant the US a significant portion of Ukraine's critical minerals—commonly referred to as rare earths—in exchange for military support. However, Zelenskyy has reaffirmed that Ukraine does not view the aid approved under the Biden administration as a loan requiring repayment. He anticipates future payments to the US will be made upfront.
The ongoing conflict continues to take a heavy toll on civilians in Ukraine. On Wednesday, a mass attack involving Russian Shahed drones resulted in the deaths of a young woman and an elderly woman, with at least 16 others wounded in Dnipro city. Similarly, in the Kharkiv region, a missile attack injured two individuals in the town of Izium. In Kherson, Russian strikes killed one person and injured three more in what officials described as a double-tap strike.
In a move to bolster security, Ukraine reported the detention of nine individuals—including five teenagers—on suspicion of preparing sabotage attacks on behalf of Russian security services. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) indicated that some detainees had plans to use explosives near residential areas or railway lines.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has remained ambiguous regarding a 30-day moratorium on strikes targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure, as President Vladimir Putin stated on March 18 that he had ordered the army to halt such attacks. However, Kyiv alleges that these assaults have persisted.
In a separate development, former Governor Alexei Smirnov and his ex-deputy from Russia's Kursk region have been arrested for allegedly embezzling over $12 million intended for border defenses against Ukraine, showcasing the ongoing corruption challenges within Russia.
Internationally, French President Emmanuel Macron is set to meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Donald Trump's envoy on Russia, Steve Witkoff, to discuss ways to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Latvia's parliament voted on Wednesday to withdraw from the treaty banning antipersonnel mines, a decision prompted by the need to reinforce national security against Russian aggression. Similar plans have been announced by Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, and Finland, although these moves have drawn criticism from human rights groups and the International Committee of the Red Cross, labeling it a dangerous setback for civilian protection in armed conflicts.
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