The president appears to have adopted a proposal first made last year that offers “strategic partners” such as the U.S. special access to Ukraine's glut of natural resources.

President Donald Trump has softened his long-standing opposition to military aid to Ukraine. This is welcome news for apprehensive Ukrainians, but his offer does not come free. Ukraine must supply the US with strategically valuable rare earth metals and use those exports as “equalisation” for the “close to $300 billion” in support that the US has provided Kyiv.

After Russia's 2022 invasion, Ukraine's normally febrile political life was becalmed under martial law. But there have been growing signs of activity picking up, as the United States has set its sights on finishing the war with Russia quickly.