KYIV: President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has shown hesitation in signing an agreement that would grant the United States preferential access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals, as reported by a local source.

The proposed deal is perceived as a form of compensation for the extensive support provided by the US, which is said to total tens of billions of dollars during former President Joe Biden's tenure.

Mike Waltz, a key figure from former President Donald Trump's administration and national security adviser, suggested on Friday that he expects Zelensky to eventually endorse the agreement.

However, the particularities of the draft agreement have not yet been shared with the public.

According to a source close to the Ukrainian presidency, "The president is not prepared to accept the draft in its current form. We are still working on making modifications and adding constructive elements.” The source criticized the ambiguity surrounding American obligations in the agreement, remarking, “There are no clear American commitments regarding guarantees or investments; everything is very unclear, and they aim to extract $500 billion from us.”

In reaction to the agreement's stipulations, the source emphasized the necessity for clarity, questioning, “What sort of partnership is this? ...And why should we be liable for $500 billion? There is no answer.” Ukraine has suggested several changes to improve the agreement's clarity and security guarantees.

The discussions are unfolding amid increased tensions between Zelensky and Trump. Earlier this week, Trump labeled Zelensky a "dictator" in a social media update, further straining diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Ukraine continues to navigate its foreign policy while seeking security assurances from the United States as part of any arrangement related to its natural resources and critical minerals.