ISTANBUL

Ukraine will send a high-level delegation to Washington this week to advance talks on a strategic partnership with the US focused on critical minerals, according to Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.

“This dialogue reflects the strategic interests of both nations and our shared commitment to building a strong, transparent partnership,” Svyrydenko said in a statement on Monday.

The delegation will include representatives from Ukraine’s economy, foreign, justice, and finance ministries.

Svyrydenko added that the talks aim to align both sides on project selection, legal frameworks, and long-term investment mechanisms related to critical minerals.

A deal was supposed to be signed in late February during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to the White House. But it was postponed after Zelenskyy's shouting match with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance when he questioned US efforts to push for diplomacy with Russia to end the three-year-old Ukraine war.

Last month, Zelenskyy said the US sent Kyiv a new and “entirely different” version of the draft minerals deal proposal that would grant US access to Ukrainian natural resources in exchange for further military support.

In response, Trump said Zelenskyy apparently wants to back out of the deal, warning the Ukrainian leader would face big problems if he did.