In a significant development from Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared his readiness to sign a minerals deal with the United States, offering access to vast reserves of rare earth elements critical for defense and technology sectors.

Speaking on Tuesday, Zelenskyy described the agreement as “favorable,” a move analysts see as an attempt to bolster economic ties with Washington amid a deepening crisis. Ukraine’s mineral wealth—potentially worth hundreds of billions—could prove a lifeline as the nation battles setbacks on multiple fronts.

The announcement comes against a bleak backdrop. The White House has abruptly halted intelligence sharing with Kyiv, a decision that has blindsided Ukrainian commanders reliant on U.S. data to counter Russian advances.

At the same time, weapons shipments—once a steady stream of Javelins and artillery rounds—have been frozen, leaving stockpiles dangerously thin. A Ukrainian military source, speaking anonymously near Kharkiv last week, told this correspondent that units are now “counting every shell,” a stark indicator of the strain.

The timing is critical. In Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops have held a pocket of territory since August, a dramatic escalation unfolded this week. Russian forces, reinforced by an estimated 12,000 North Korean soldiers, smashed through Ukrainian lines, threatening to erase seven months of hard-fought gains.

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Footage obtained shows heavy fighting near Sudzha, with plumes of smoke rising over contested ground. Western officials confirm Pyongyang’s involvement marks a new phase in Moscow’s campaign, raising alarm in NATO capitals.

Zelenskyy’s minerals offer is a calculated response. Ukraine’s deposits—lithium, titanium, and rare earths—rival those of global powers like China, a fact not lost on U.S. policymakers eyeing supply chain security. This correspondent has tracked resource diplomacy from Africa to Asia, and the playbook is clear: Kyiv is leveraging what it has to offset what it’s lost. But there’s a catch—negotiations, still in early stages, lack firm security pledges, a point of contention among Ukrainian leaders. One senior official, briefed on the talks, warned privately of “trading assets while the house burns.”

As the Kursk incursion intensifies, Zelenskyy’s outreach point to Ukraine’s precarious position. With U.S. support waning and Russian-North Korean forces pressing forward, Kyiv is betting on economic leverage to weather the storm. For a nation fighting to hold its ground, this deal could shift the narrative—or signal a desperate pivot in a war growing grimmer by the day.