KYIV, Ukraine (AP) 鈥� A framework economic deal with the United States is ready, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday, but that Kyiv views as vital for its remain to be decided and a full agreement could hinge on talks in Washington as early as Friday.
The agreed upon framework deal is a preliminary step toward a comprehensive agreement that will be subject to ratification by Ukraine鈥檚 parliament, Zelenskyy said during a news conference in Kyiv.
Ukraine needs to know first where the United States stands on its continued military support, Zelenskyy said. He said that he expects to have a wide-ranging conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump during a visit to Washington.
鈥淭his (economic) agreement may be part of future security guarantees, but I want to understand the broader vision. What awaits Ukraine?鈥� Zelensky said.
Since returning to office last month, Trump let Ukraine know that he for tens of billions of dollars in U.S. help to fend off the full-scale invasion that Russia launched just over three years ago on Feb. 24, 2022.
The agreement, seen by The Associated Press, says that the United States 鈥渟upports Ukraine鈥檚 efforts to obtain security guarantees needed to establish lasting peace.鈥�
鈥淧articipants will seek to identify any necessary steps to protect mutual investments as defined in the ... agreement,鈥� it says.
A White House official made clear again Wednesday after Zelenskyy spoke that accepting the agreement was a necessary precondition of Trump鈥檚 invitation to Zelenskyy to meet on Friday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the invitation.
鈥淭his agreement may either be a great success or quietly fade away," Zelenskyy said. "And I believe success depends on our conversation with President Trump.鈥�
鈥淚 want to coordinate with the U.S.,鈥� Zelenskyy said.
Trump has abruptly ditched some previous Washington policies. He scrapped efforts to and cast doubt on U.S. . That has brought that could reset the war鈥檚 path this year.
Zelenskyy said the main topics that he wants to discuss with Trump are whether the U.S. plans to halt military aid and, if so, whether Ukraine would be able to purchase weapons directly from the U.S.
He also wants to know whether Ukraine can use frozen Russian assets for the purchase of weapons and investments and whether Washington plans to lift sanctions on Russia.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed that Ukraine and the U..S. have reached preliminary agreement on that includes U.S. access to .
The preliminary agreement sets out the terms and conditions of an investment fund for the rebuilding of Ukraine, according to Shmyhal.
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Zeke Miller contributed to this report from Washington.
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Follow AP鈥檚 coverage of the war in Ukraine at
Hanna Arhirova And Justin Spike, The Associated Press
