Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed a new mineral agreement with the United States and calls it a “really straight” partnership that provides shared benefits for both sides.

His comments came just hours after Russian missile strikes killed two people and wounded 15 others in response to the agreement signed Wednesday, aiming to develop Ukraine’s critical mineral resources jointly.

The agreement, which has taken months to negotiate, would see the United States and Kyiv jointly develop and invest in Ukraine’s critical mineral resources.

US President Donald Trump initially described the event as “money back” to wartime assistance that Ukraine received under his predecessor Joe Biden.

However, Ukraine said the new agreement is not linked to any previous “debt”. And US officials emphasized that Accord signaled US support for Ukraine.

“This agreement clearly signals Russia that the Trump administration is obliged to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign and prosperous Ukraine in the long term,” said US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington.

The agreement “changed significantly” during the negotiations, Zelensky said in his daily address.

“Now it’s a really straight deal that creates an opportunity for quite significant investments in Ukraine.”

“There is no debt in the agreement, and a fund – a recovery fund – will be created that will invest in Ukraine and make money here,” he added.

Kyiv and Washington planned to sign the deal in February, but a white house clash between Trump and Zelensky derailed the conversations.

Ukraine hopes that the agreement will now pave the way for the United States to provide security guarantees as it seeks to protect against future Russian attacks following Moscow’s three -year invasion.

The agreement still needs to be ratified by Ukraine’s parliament.

‘Be quiet and negotiate’

Under the agreement, Ukraine and the United States will create a common reconstruction investment fund.

Profit from the agreement will be invested exclusively in Ukraine for the first 10 years, after which profits “can be distributed between the partners,” Kyiv said.

The new agreement does not provide any specific US security obligations, but Washington claims to increase its business interests in Ukraine will help deter Russia.

Moscow has maintained its attacks on Ukraine unabated despite Trump’s efforts to mediate a ceasefire.

A Russian drone strike overnight on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa killed two people and wounded more than a dozen others, authorities said.

“We need additional pressure on Russia to force it to be quiet and negotiate. The more effective sanctions, the more incentives Russia will have to end the war,” Zelensky said in telegram after the attack.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told AFP on Thursday after Washington talks to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the European Union is preparing a 17th round of sanctions against Russia and describing President Vladimir Putin as “only obstacle” to peace in Ukraine.

A Bipartisan group of US senators led by Republican Lindsay Graham and Democrat Richard Blumenthal also suggested last month legislation that would impose sanctions for countries that are friendly to Moscow if it interferes with efforts to end the war.

Russia rejected a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the United States and Ukraine in March and demanded a stop in Western military help to Kiev.

The United States warned that this week would be “critical” by deciding if it would go away from the efforts to mediate an end to the three -year war.

Putin has declared a surprise three-day ceasefire from 8 to 10 May, coinciding with Moscow’s great celebration for the World War II victory day.