Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that Kyiv has officially received a new draft agreement from the United States concerning a critical minerals deal, describing it as "significantly different" from the earlier framework proposed during prior bilateral talks. Speaking at a press briefing, Zelenskyy noted that the document was formally submitted to his office and will be reviewed and compared with the previous version shared with Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko. He firmly rejected any suggestion that US military support should be considered a loan. "We are grateful for the support, but this is not a credit, and we will not allow it to be treated as such," Zelenskyy said. He also announced that Ukraine is preparing to host a closed-format, high-level meeting involving military representatives from nations open to sending contingents to Ukraine. France, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine have confirmed participation. Zelenskyy added that Ukraine had reached agreements with several European partners to enhance intelligence-sharing capabilities, including access to satellite systems and technologies, as well as ammunition stockpiles. He said new defense assistance packages will be announced during the next Ramstein-format meeting in April, as part of Ukraine's ongoing coordination with allied nations. Zelenskyy further revealed that the US plans to consult with Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and European countries on the establishment of international monitoring mechanisms related to the war. On the military front, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces are actively working to reduce the concentration of Russian troops south of Russia's Kursk region to prevent a potential offensive targeting Ukraine's Sumy region. When asked about possible negotiations with Moscow, the Ukrainian president reiterated that Ukraine is open to talks with Russian representatives only if they present a genuine plan to end the war—excluding any possibility of engaging directly with President Vladimir Putin. — Agencies
