U.S. and Ukraine Reopen Talks on Contentious Minerals Deal

A Ukrainian delegation was in Washington on Friday for a new round of talks about a deal that would give the United States a major stake in Ukraine’s natural resources.

The visit marked the latest twist in a monthslong saga that has seen Kyiv and Washington haggling over a deal that President Trump sees as a way to “recoup” past U.S. aid to Ukraine, and which President Volodymyr Zelensky hopes can help secure defense guarantees for his country.

The talks will be the first in-person meeting since the White House presented a revised draft agreement that revived tough demands Kyiv had earlier rejected — effectively bringing negotiations back to square one.

The talks in Washington, which were expected to start Friday and last two days, will be mostly technical and will not involve top officials, officials in Kyiv said.

The Ukrainian delegation is led by Taras Kachka, a deputy economy minister in charge of trade, and includes representatives from the ministries of economy and justice. The White House has not provided details on the talks.

Here’s what to know on the negotiations.

What’s the Latest U.S. Proposal?

The new proposal, reviewed by The New York Times, reverts to Mr. Trump’s initial demand that Ukraine repay the United States for the billions it has received in military and financial aid since Russia’s invasion three years ago.