In Ukraine, a minerals deal with the US appears to be in the final stages of negotiation, with Ukrainian officials announcing the two countries will sign a memorandum of intent on the deal. It was also reported that the US had dropped a prior demand to treat aid it had provided as debt, and also reassessed the amount of aid that is planned to be recovered through this agreement, from USD 300 bln to 100 bln. US Treasury Secretary Bessent stated the countries could sign this agreement as soon as this week.