Ukraine war latest: Kyiv 'determined' to sign US minerals deal today - but talks hit 'last-minute hurdle'

Trump holding US cabinet meeting

Donald Trump is holding a cabinet meeting at the White House.

We've got all the coverage of that over in our US live blog, but we'll also bring you any comments he makes about Ukraine, Russia or the minerals deal here too.

Timeline: Trump's quest to end the war in a day

Donald Trump said at virtually every campaign rally ahead of the US election last year that he would end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours. 

"Well, I said that figuratively, and I said that as an exaggeration, because to make a point," Trump told Time magazine last week.

In this timeline, we take a look at his quest to end the war - 101 days and counting... 

Watch: What minerals does Ukraine have?

Before Russia's invasion in February 2022, minerals made up 6.1% of Ukraine's GDP (gross domestic product) and 30% of its exports.

It is home to various "critical" minerals, so-called for their use in technology manufacturing, defence systems, and green energy, with examples including copper, nickel, lithium, and titanium.

Back in February, Sky's economics and data editor Ed Conway looked into the nuts and bolts of Ukraine's mineral resources. Watch his report below.

Minerals deal hits 'last-minute hurdle'

There are various reports on when the minerals deal could be signed, and if it could be inked in the next 24 hours as Ukraine's prime minister has said (see 2.43pm post).

In the past few minutes, The Financial Times said the US and Ukraine have run into some "last-minute hurdles" following a dispute over what had been agreed in overnight negotiations.

Problems arose, the report says, when Ukraine's first deputy prime minister was told on her way to Washington by US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent's team that she should "be ready to sign all agreements, or go back home".

The Americans want the Ukrainians to sign both the framework deal and a detailed fund agreement that would complete the full minerals deal today, said two Ukrainian officials.

This could not be done, they said, because the fund agreement must be ratified by Ukraine's parliament before it can be signed. 

Watch: How close is a Ukraine ceasefire?

Events at the negotiating table continue to move at a rapid pace. 

This morning, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov sent several mixed messages regarding Moscow's readiness for peace when speaking to Sky News and other outlets.

After saying peace would not come as quickly as Donald Trump wanted, he said a deal would need to be struck with Kyiv and not Washington - but also that Moscow was incredibly grateful to the US for trying to mediate. 

He also said Putin was ready for direct talks with Ukraine immediately, but also that lots of "little details" needed to be addressed first. 

Nothing in deal about Ukraine 'paying US back', source tells Sky News

A bit more on the minerals deal now, with a Ukrainian source telling Sky News that Kyiv is "determined to sign the deal today". 

The source says negotiating teams have done a good job, and that the deal was actually finalised on the whole yesterday, 

"It turned out quite well there - an equal agreement, a reconstruction fund is being set up, there will be investments in infrastructure and the development of various industries, and in general, we can say that this is the highest level of economic partnership between our countries," they said. 

The source adds there is no mention in the agreement that Ukraine has to return previous financial support given to it from  the US.

That could come as a significant relief to Kyiv, with Donald Trump having said on multiple occasions he wants American financial contributions back. 

Minerals deal should be signed in next 24 hours, Ukraine's PM says

Ukraine and the United States could sign a minerals deal within the next 24 hours after the final details are worked out, Ukraine's prime minister has said. 

The agreement, which has been reworked, has become a "real partnership deal", Denys Shmyhal, the prime minister, said. 

The terms could consider future US aid as part of contributions to the fund, he said in televised remarks. 

It's been suggested the deal could be signed as early as tonight. 

As we reported in our previous post, Ukraine's first deputy prime minister is on her way to Washington to sign the deal, according to sources quoted by the Reuters news agency. 

The exact terms of the deal remain unclear, with the deal hitting several stumbling blocks - including a now infamous bust-up between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump at the White House - which have delayed it. 

Ukrainian officials en route to Washington to sign deal - sources

Ukraine's first deputy prime minister is on her way to Washington to sign a much-discussed minerals deal, sources have told the Reuters news agency.

Yulia Svyrydenko is heading to the US now, the source said.

"I think maybe late evening Kyiv time, the deal there can be signed," the source said. 

Kyiv and Washington signed a memorandum in the middle of this month, saying they aimed to complete talks by 26 April and sign the deal as soon as possible.

Terms have not yet been made public, but we'll be across this story as it develops. 

-SKY NEWS