Ukraine, PM: 'Possible signing of agreement on rare earths in 24 hours'. Russia: 'Direct talks if Kiev accepts May truce'
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Key points
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A minerals agreement with the US could be signed within the next 24 hours. This was said by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal speaking on the national news, according to Interfax Ukraine. "Today, First Vice-Premier Yulia Svyrydenko is on her way to Washington. We are already finalising the last details with our American colleagues.... As soon as all the details are finalised, I hope that within the next 24 hours the agreement will be signed." Shmyhal emphasised that the technical details are currently being finalised, as all the key points have already been agreed upon, and the government has gathered approval for the text from key ministries. "The government," he added, "will be ready at any time, as soon as the final information from our colleagues in Washington arrives, to approve the agreement.
Meanwhile, the United States is reportedly ready to abandon its role as mediator in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine if 'concrete proposals' do not come from the two countries, said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, confirming for the first time what many expected in Kiev and in various European capitals.
Usas call for 'concrete proposals'
."We have reached the point where concrete proposals on how to end the conflict are needed from the two countries. If there is no progress, we will abandon the role of mediator in this process,' explained the spokeswoman, Tammy Bruce, quoting Rubio's message. The last word, however, will be that of Donald Trump, who just yesterday in an Abc interview said he is convinced that Putin wants peace, while rejecting Putin's proposal for a ceasefire of only three days. The US 'doesn't want a three-day thing so we can celebrate something else (Victory Day, ed.) but a lasting and complete truce and an end to the conflict,' Bruce explained.
Russia remains firm on its truce proposal. Moscow is ready to enter into direct talks with Kiev if the Ukrainian government accepts Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal for a truce between 8 and 11 May, to commemorate Victory Day, the Kremlin's representative at the UN, Vasily Nebenzia, was quoted by Russian agencies as saying.
If Kiev agrees, "it could be a prelude to peace talks between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, without any preconditions," Moscow's ambassador said during a UN Security Council meeting on the conflict in Ukraine.
