War in Europe

Ukraine-USA, signed memorandum for rare earths agreement

The Kremlin: Ukraine and Europe show they want peace

17 April 2025

Un momento del vertice di Parigi tra la delegzione Ucraina e rapresentanti di Regno Unito, Francia e Germania

4' min read

Ukraine and the United States have signed a memorandum demonstrating their intention to finalise and conclude a rare earths agreement. This was announced by Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko, as Ukrainska Pravda reports. "Today," she said, "we have taken a step towards a joint economic partnership agreement with the US. The memorandum demonstrates constructive joint work and the intention to finalise and conclude an agreement beneficial to both our peoples." Donald Trump said today that the minerals deal, negotiated for months, will be signed 'next Thursday'.

Russia expects from Europe and Ukraine 'an orientation towards a peaceful solution' to the conflict. This was said by Kremlin spokesman Peskov, speaking about the ongoing consultations in Paris between Ukrainians, Europeans and Americans. "Unfortunately, from the Europeans we see an orientation towards the continuation of the conflict," he adds, stressing that the main way to reach a solution to the conflict in Ukraine is talks between Russia and the United States.

'We started working in Paris together with Andriy Yermak and Rustem Umerov meeting with our British, French and German colleagues at the Elysée Palace'. This is what Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha writes on X, reporting on the mission with the head of the Ukrainian President's office Volodymyr Zelensky and the Defence Minister.

"We talked," he adds, "about the roads to a just and lasting peace, including a full ceasefire, a multinational contingent and security guarantees for Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron had a working lunch in Paris with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Witkoff also met with Ukrainian presidential advisor Andrii Yermak and senior officials from France, the UK, and Germany. Rubio will meet with the French foreign minister later today. US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said Rubio and Witkoff in Paris would hold discussions with their European counterparts "to advance President Trump's goal of ending the war between Russia and Ukraine and stopping the bloodshed". The meetings come at a time of growing concern over Trump's willingness to get closer to Russia and after weeks of US efforts to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine.

The White House also let it be known that President Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will work to 'end the war. Our two countries will continue to work together to end the war in Ukraine. Italy will play an important role in reconstruction, but, like other allies, will have to fulfil its responsibilities for the security of Europe in order to keep the peace,' a senior US official said during a call on the Italian PM's visit to the White House.

Moscow: Lavrov briefed by Rubio on Paris talks

Russian Foreign Minister Serghei Lavrov had a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who briefed him on the outcome of the Paris talks with representatives of Ukraine, France and other European countries. This was reported by the Moscow Foreign Ministry. Lavrov "confirmed Moscow's readiness to continue cooperating with American colleagues with the aim of reliably eliminating the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis," the Russian ministry adds on its Telegram channel. The Russian minister and the US secretary of state "agreed to maintain timely communication, also in light of the meetings scheduled by the Americans and the Europeans with the Ukrainian side next week," the note further stressed.

Zelensky: 'Beijing supplies arms to Moscow'

'China supplies arms to Russia for its war against Ukraine. Kiev has received relevant information about their cooperation'. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodyymyr Zelensky as reported by Rbc-Ukraine. 'Important information, not exactly pleasant. We have finally received information from intelligence that China is supplying arms to the Russian Federation," specifically "gunpowder and artillery," Zelensky said.

Journalist Makarov stabbed

Meanwhile, in addition to Russian attacks against residential targets, which continue in spite of negotiations, there is also the stabbing of journalist Yuri Makarov in Ukraine. The incident occurred late Wednesday evening. Makarov is now hospitalised in a serious, but not life-threatening condition. This was reported by Rbc Ukraine. Makarov, 69, was attacked in the Solomyanskyi district, near an apartment complex. The police seized the knife found at the scene of the attack. The Solomjansk police department opened a file on charges of grievous bodily harm, for which five to eight years' imprisonment is envisaged.

Yuriy Makarov is a Ukrainian journalist, documentary filmmaker and writer, born on 24 April 1955 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He has worked for major Ukrainian television stations.

Medvedev: 'In Paris we discuss how many coffins they will accept'

"Apparently the summit of the fascist clique in Ukraine has arrived in Paris for talks with the UK, Germany and France on how many coffins they will be ready to accept after the deployment of troops from the coalition of the willing". Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and current number two on the National Security Council, thus comments on X on the consultations scheduled for today in Paris, with the US also participating.