Russian invasion

Negotiations
Zelensky: Agreed on a mineral deal with the US

The US and Ukraine have agreed on a mineral deal, President Zelensky's staff confirms to the Kyiv Independent.

Ukrainian sources told the Financial Times that Kyiv has negotiated better terms with Washington than before.

According to the agreement, Ukraine is to establish a fund in which half of the revenues from state-owned mineral resources, including oil and gas, will be invested. The fund will then invest in projects in Ukraine.

However, it is unclear how much ownership the US will have in the fund, and the terms of "joint ownership" have not yet been worked out.

The agreement does not contain any security guarantees for Ukraine. However, according to the country's Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna, who participated in the negotiations, the agreement is only part of a larger deepening of relations with the US. 

Trump: Zelenskyj will come to Washington on Friday

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj plans to travel to Washington and meet with US President Donald Trump on Friday, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

The information is confirmed by Donald Trump.

– I have heard that Ukrainian President Zelenskyj will visit on Friday, he said according to Reuters.

Earlier on Tuesday, President Zelenskyj's staff confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that the US and Ukraine have agreed on a mineral agreement.

The purpose of Friday's visit to the US is to sign the agreement, a senior Ukrainian source told AFP.

According to Ukrainian sources to the Financial Times, Kyiv has negotiated better terms with Washington than before.

The world's response
Norway and Denmark enter into new defense cooperation

Norway and Denmark are to enter into a new defense cooperation. This was announced by the Social Democratic Prime Ministers Jonas Gahr Støre and Mette Frederiksen at a press conference, according to VG.

This concerns, among other things, joint exercises and the purchase of equipment. The announcement was made after the two leaders returned from Kyiv.

They both express understanding for the Norwegians' and Danes' concerns in the current situation, with the war in Ukraine and the declining support from the US.

- We should not paint the hell on the wall or go around being afraid, but we should act. We do not control what the Americans do, but what we ourselves do, says Frederiksen. 

Gloomy Nordic S meeting in the shadow of the war

On Tuesday, the five Nordic Social Democratic leaders gathered in a foggy Holmenkollen, writes Aftonbladet.

There were no cheerful tones – Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre calls it “a serious meeting in a time that is darker than before”. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s message is that we are not in a cold war, but a hot war.

Her call to her colleagues is massive rearmament.

– I have sent a clear message to the defense in Denmark: buy, buy, buy.

Norway and Denmark announced earlier in the day that they had entered into a new defense cooperation.

Expert: EU can compensate for the US – if the will is there

Donald Trump’s rhetoric regarding the war in Ukraine has created concerns that US support will decrease or even cease. However, both the Ukrainian government and military analysts Politico spoke to believe that support from Europe will be enough for Ukraine to continue to resist and push back the Russians for a longer period of time.

“In my opinion, we have six months before we would really start to feel the lack of weapons on the front lines,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told Politico.

François Heisbourg, an advisor at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, also believes that Europe can make up for wavering support from the United States.

“In terms of budget, the answer is yes, it is feasible. But what is politically feasible, and whether the will is there, is debatable,” he says. 

EU grapples with the issue of frozen Russian money

After being excluded from the talks between the US and Russia, the EU is considering playing what may be its main trump card: 200 billion euros in frozen Russian assets. This is reported by Politico.

Several countries, including the Nordic countries, the Baltics, Poland and the Czech Republic, believe that the money should be given to Ukraine. The argument is that it can then replace the American support if it is withdrawn.

The opposing camp, which France, Germany, Italy and Spain join, fears that it would scare off international investors and undermine the EU's position in potential peace talks.

- If you give the money to Ukraine, you can no longer use it as a bargaining chip, says an EU source.

Britain’s future
The British are investing in defense – but in no hurry

Great Britain’s defense spending will increase from 2.3 percent of GDP to 2.5 percent, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces.

Everything has changed and Europe must “do more,” Starmer says according to Sky News.

However, the new spending levels will not be reached until 2027. The money will be made available by the UK reducing aid by the same amount.

Former Conservative Defence Secretary and Ukraine ally Ben Wallace is very critical.

“Tone deaf to the dangers in the world and the US demands,” he writes on X.