Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has on Monday instructed his ministers not to approve a proposed agreement granting the United States access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals, citing concerns that the deal prioritises US interests over Ukraine's security needs. The agreement was discussed during Zelenskyy's meeting with US Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference on Friday. However, according to sources familiar with the talks, the proposal lacked specific security guarantees for Ukraine, leading Zelenskyy to withhold approval. The decision has drawn criticism from Washington, with a senior White House official calling it "short-sighted." Speaking to The Associated Press in Munich on Saturday, Zelenskyy defended his stance, stating, "I didn't let the ministers sign a relevant agreement because, in my view, it is not ready to protect us, our interests." Attribution: AP Subediting: Y.Yasser
