U.S. to offer economic agreement to Ukraine in exchange for further support - secretary

WASHINGTON. Feb 13 (Interfax) - The United States wants to sign an economic cooperation agreement with Ukraine in exchange for further support, U.S. Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent said on Wednesday.

"We would like an economic cooperation agreement. And in exchange for this agreement, the U.S. will continue to provide material support for the Ukraine, for the people," Bessent said at a meeting with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in Kiev.

Bessent said in a statement, aired by Western media, that, in his opinion, the agreement would send a message to the Russian authorities about the U.S. commitment to assist Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier he would like to conclude an agreement with Ukraine, which would give access to Ukrainian rare earths to the United States in exchange for U.S. financial and military assistance.