Volodin, an ally of President Vladimir Putin, was speaking after Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Ukraine had received a first tranche of funds worth about $1 billion from Britain, secured by the proceeds of frozen Russian assets.

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

Ukraine's prime minister says his country is "firmly determined to continue co-operating" with Washington, after the US pauses military aid. Denys Shmyhal says Kyiv is "ready to s

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal speaks during a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

The remarks by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal were the first official comment from Kyiv after U.S. President Donald Trump stunned Ukrainians by pausing the supply of U.S. military aid that has been critical for Kyiv since Russia's 2022 invasion.

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

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

The framework deal is a first step toward a full agreement that will be subject to ratification by Ukraine’s parliament, Zelenskyy said during a news conference in Kyiv. Ukraine needs to know where the United States stands on its continued military support,

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit the White House on Friday to sign a long-sought minerals deal that will closely tie the two countries together for years to come.

Trump also says "we're going to make a deal with Russia and Ukraine" to stop the war - adding Moscow will have to make concessions.

The agreed upon framework deal is a preliminary step toward a comprehensive agreement that will be subject to ratification by Ukraine’s parliament, Zelenskyy said during a news conference in Kyiv. Ukraine needs to know first where the United States stands on its continued military support,