The signing of a minerals agreement by Ukraine and the United States has raised concerns among russian elites. They fear that Moscow could lose its negotiating edge as Kyiv and Washington get closer.
This is according to a report in the American publication The Washington Post (WP).
According to WP, this week russian officials have been "scornful" of the news of a resource deal between Ukraine and the US.
Russian senators and MPs have publicly stated that the minerals agreement is "another step towards the colonization of Ukraine" and "has turned the country into a mineral colony."
However, the publication notes that behind the scenes, there is growing concern among some in the russian elite that the deal could signal a new rapprochement between Ukraine and the United States, which could close russia’s window of opportunity to reach a peace deal on terms that are favorable to it.
Moscow and Kyiv have sought to pin the blame on each other for the lack of progress in the peace talks that Trump initially promised to secure within 24 hours of taking office.
But after initial clashes with Zelenskyy, including a public quarrel in the Oval Office, Trump’s anger has increasingly focused on russia’s stalling of the talks and its apparent rejection of a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the United States, which Kyiv immediately supported.
And after a brief meeting with Zelenskyy at the Vatican at the funeral of Pope Francis, the American leader criticized the russian dictator for recent airstrikes on civilian targets that have killed civilians.
The publication notes that Washington, apparently, rejected Moscow's proposal to declare a new three-day truce, necessary for the russians to hold festive events on May 9.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on April 30, Ukrainian Economy Minister Yuliya Svyrydenko and her American counterpart Scott Bessent signed an agreement on minerals.
According to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, the agreement on minerals signed with the United States covers Ukraine's 1991 borders.
The US Department of State called the signing of the agreement a step towards ending the war.
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