Ukraine and the United States have signed a preliminary memorandum of intent aimed at finalizing a far-reaching economic partnership and reconstruction investment fund focused on mineral exploitation. The document, seen by Euronews, marks a significant step toward what could be a landmark agreement shaping Ukraine’s post-war economic recovery.

The memorandum, signed on Thursday by Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, sets the stage for high-level negotiations in Washington between April 21 and 26. According to the document, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal will travel to Washington during that week to lend political backing to the final round of technical discussions.

The goal is to conclude talks by April 26 and sign the agreement shortly afterward. “Negotiating teams are expected to report on progress by April 26, 2025, with the aim of completing discussions by that date and signing as soon as possible,” the document reads.

The proposed agreement is not without controversy. It outlines the creation of a joint investment fund that would give the US considerable influence over Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and natural resources. The fund’s board would be made up of five members—three appointed by the US and two by Ukraine—effectively granting Washington veto power over major decisions.

Under the deal, Ukraine would be required to submit all major infrastructure and resource projects—including those involving roads, ports, railways, and mineral extraction—to the fund for approval. If rejected, Kyiv would be barred from offering the same projects to other countries under more favorable terms.

Furthermore, the US would receive all profits generated by the fund and a 4% annual return until the total military and financial assistance—estimated at €114 billion by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy—is repaid. This “payback” structure has been championed by former President Donald Trump, who remains a key figure in ongoing US foreign policy despite current tensions with Ukrainian leadership.

The agreement also notes potential legal conflicts with Ukraine’s EU accession obligations and international financial commitments. However, the US pledged not to interfere in those matters. “The United States respects Ukraine’s intention to avoid conflicts in the drafting of the agreement with Ukraine’s obligations under European Union accession,” the document states.

The deal comes amid growing tensions between the US and Ukraine. Relations have deteriorated since Trump initiated backchannel talks with Russian officials to end the war, reportedly excluding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from the process. A heated Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy in February only deepened the rift.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in Paris this week to consult with European allies. Speaking to reporters Friday, Rubio warned that Washington could pull out of peace negotiations if no meaningful progress is achieved soon.

As talks in Washington approach, the proposed investment fund is expected to dominate headlines—and draw scrutiny over its implications for Ukraine’s sovereignty and economic independence.

In his first major public address since leaving office, former U.S. President Joe Biden launched a scathing critique of his successor, accusing President Donald Trump of dismantling the nation’s welfare system and putting millions of Americans at risk.

Speaking at a disability rights event in Chicago on Tuesday, Biden, 82, took aim at recent developments within the Social Security Administration (SSA), which provides vital benefits to over 70 million Americans. He warned that job cuts and funding reductions under Trump’s leadership could severely disrupt the delivery of services to some of the country’s most vulnerable citizens.

“In fewer than 100 days, this new administration has done so much damage and so much destruction. It’s kind of breathtaking,” Biden told the audience. “Social Security deserves to be protected for the good of the nation as a whole.”

Biden accused Trump of taking “a hatchet” to the country’s welfare safety net in a bid to slash federal spending. Though Trump has repeatedly vowed not to cut Social Security benefits, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an unofficial agency aligned with the administration, plans to eliminate 7,000 jobs from the SSA.

The plan is being overseen by DOGE head and Trump ally Elon Musk, who has controversially called Social Security “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.” The proposed staffing cuts have sparked widespread concern that benefit payments may be delayed or disrupted due to reduced agency capacity.

Already, thousands of SSA employees have departed the agency, leading to reports of website crashes and unresponsive customer service lines. Biden said such dysfunction could lead to “a calamity for millions of families” who rely on timely benefits.

Criticizing the speed and aggression of Trump’s budget cuts, Biden remarked that the administration is “shooting first and aiming later.” He emphasized the long-standing bipartisan consensus that Social Security should remain untouched, calling its preservation a moral obligation.

In response to Biden’s remarks, the Trump administration accused the former president of spreading misinformation. “He’s lying to Americans,” a White House spokesperson said.

Jason Turkish, a prominent disability lawyer based in Michigan who represents 32,000 clients, echoed Biden’s concerns. “There’s always been a belief that Social Security is just something we do not touch,” he said. “But now, people are genuinely worried.”

Since leaving office earlier this year, Biden has largely remained out of the political spotlight, aside from occasional public appearances. He was recently seen attending the opening night of Othello on Broadway and frequently commutes between his Delaware home and his Washington, D.C., office.

Tuesday’s address marks a return to the national stage for Biden and signals his growing concern over the direction of domestic policy under the Trump administration.

As Russia continues to occupy nearly one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory, millions of Ukrainians remain trapped behind enemy lines, enduring repression, intimidation, and daily fear—but many refuse to leave, clinging to hope that liberation will come.

Among them is a woman from southeastern Ukraine, a member of Zla Mavka, an all-female non-violent resistance group. Speaking to CNN under strict anonymity due to the danger, she described life under occupation as “exhausting and incredibly scary.”

“You can be arrested for anything,” she said. “You can’t speak freely, trust anyone, or even keep certain items in your home. Every day is a risk.”

Zla Mavka, named after a mystical forest spirit in Ukrainian folklore, focuses on preserving Ukrainian identity by secretly distributing literature, celebrating national holidays, and fostering cultural pride. “We want to remind everyone—this is not Russia and never was,” she said.

The risks are severe. Ukrainian citizens in occupied regions are being pressured to take Russian passports, with refusal often leading to arrest, torture, or deportation. Human rights groups have denounced these tactics as violations of international law. Without Russian documentation, residents cannot work, access medical care, or call emergency services. “You can’t even call an ambulance,” the resistance member said.

Stepan, a 22-year-old Ukrainian who recently escaped to government-controlled Kherson, shared a harrowing account of his detention by Russian troops. He and his family were imprisoned without charges—he was tortured with electric shocks, and his parents were held for months. “I was afraid to leave the house,” he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed a decree requiring Ukrainians in occupied territories to adopt Russian citizenship by September or face expulsion. Ukrainian officials have urged residents to prioritize safety, even if that means accepting documents under duress.

While some residents support the occupation, both Stepan and the resistance member believe these individuals are a small minority—often those who benefit materially from aligning with the Russian regime. “They didn’t have much before. Now, shouting ‘I love Russia’ gets them a job and money,” the woman said.

Leaving the occupied zones is no easy task. Escape routes pass through Russian-controlled filtration points, where people are screened and interrogated. Many have been detained and sent to distant Russian facilities. Others must navigate a circuitous and expensive route through Russia and Europe to reach safety in Ukraine.

“It’s not just about territories,” the woman emphasized. “It’s about people. We are still here. We are waiting. And even if negotiations give our cities to Russia, resistance won’t stop.”

As international debates over peace negotiations and potential territorial concessions continue, those living under occupation remain defiant, unwilling to abandon their homes and their national identity—even in the face of overwhelming adversity.