Washington, 17 April 2025 (dpa/MIA) - The US government expects to sign an agreement on a strategic raw materials partnership with Ukraine next week, President Donald Trump said on Thursday.

"We have a minerals deal, which I guess is going to be signed on Thursday, next Thursday," Trump said at a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the White House.

He did not provide further details but appeared to be referring to a final agreement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier Thursday announced an interim step on the way to a raw materials deal with the US.

"The memorandum of understanding could be signed online today," Zelensky told journalists in Kiev.

Trump referred further questions from the press to his finance minister, Scott Bessent, who was also present at the meeting.

Bessent said details are still being worked out, referring to when and where the deal is to be signed. The target date is April 26, according to Bessent. That would be next Saturday.

He noted that the agreement essentially includes what was agreed on previously and is is around 80 pages long.

At the end of February, the signing of a vague framework agreement on joint raw materials extraction failed in Washington following a dispute between Trump and Zelensky.

Photo: EPA