Ukraine's government has announced the signing of the outline of a minerals deal between the war-torn country and the US. Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said the memorandum of intent paved the way for what she called an economic partnership agreement.

Ukraine and the United States on Thursday signed a memorandum as an initial step towards the clinching of an agreement on developing minerals in Ukraine, Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine's first deputy prime minister and economy minister,

The signed memorandum of understanding was thin on details, and the White House did not comment. But President Trump has said he expects to sign a full minerals deal with Kyiv soon.

Besides Macron, the French foreign ministry said Rubio will also meet his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot to discuss Ukraine, prospects for a new Iran nuclear deal and the Middle East. Witkoff plans to fly on to Rome for a second round of discussions on Saturday with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi about Iran's nuclear program.

France hailed talks on the Ukraine war between top US and European officials on Thursday during which US Secretary of State Marco Rubio again pressed a US peace plan.President Emmanuel Macron's office said the talks launched a "positive process" as Europe seeks to be included in efforts to end the three-year-old war.