US and Ukraine ‘have agreed on preliminary economic deal’

The war has dragged on for three years (Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP)

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said his country and the United States have reached a preliminary agreement on a broad economic deal that includes American access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals amid its three-year war with Russia.

After days of negotiations, Ukraine and the US will sign the preliminary agreement, although further details of a full agreement – including US security guarantees that Kyiv officials view as vital – are still to be worked out, Mr Shmyhal said on Ukrainian public television.