Ukraine-Russia war latest: US step back from peace talks and ‘won’t fly around world at drop of hat’ to mediate

Ukraine is sitting on one of Europe’s largest deposits of critical minerals, including lithium and titanium, much of which is untapped.

According to the Institute of Geology, Ukraine possesses rare earth elements such as lanthanum and cerium, used in TVs and lighting; neodymium, used in wind turbines and EV batteries; and erbium and yttrium, whose applications range from nuclear power to lasers. The EU-funded research also indicates that Ukraine has scandium reserves but detailed data is classified.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has been trying to develop these resources, estimated to be worth more than £12 trillion, based on figures provided by Forbes Ukraine, for years.

For more information about Ukraine’s mineral deposits, as the country is set to make a deal with Russia, read this explainer below from Tom Watling, Alicja Hagopian and Maroosha Muzaffar.

As Russia-occupied Crimea reportedly faced drone attacks from Ukraine overnight, the territory remains a key part in peace discussions between Moscow and Kyiv.

Here, our world affairs editor Sam Kiley explains just why the region is so important in any negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

An attack on the city of Zaporizhzhia south-eastern Ukraine has injured 31, including two children.

Ivan Fedorov, the region’s governor, said: “victims of yesterday’s attack on the regional centre continue to be treated in Zaporizhzhia hospitals.

“The number of hospitalised people has increased – seven people are in medical facilities.”

A cutting-edge new British drone came into operation on Friday as Sir Keir Starmer vowed the UK government would “stand up to Putin and ruthlessly protect UK and European security”.

The StormShroud air systems will be fitted with a high-tech signal jammer to disrupt enemy radar at long range and fly alongside RAF crews on frontline missions.

Number 10 said the development took advantage of “learnings from countering (Vladimir) Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine”.

Before the mineral deal between Ukraine and the United States can be signed into law, Ukrainian politicians and representatives must ratify it.

This involves discussion, unless otherwise decided by political representatives.

Ratification could involve a speech by the relevant committee, presentations and speeches from different political factions – two for and two against the deal.

If the procedure is shortened, it will need 150 votes to be ratified.

This process is set to take place next week.

Politician Yaroslav Zheleznyak has said the vote to ratify the Minerals Agreement between the US and Ukraine will take place on 8 May.

Russia is continuing to create a “security strip” in border areas of Ukraine’s Sumy region after driving Ukrainian troops out of the Kursk region of western Russia, state news agency RIA quoted the Russian defence ministry as saying on Friday.

It quoted the ministry as saying that in the past week, Russian troops had seized four settlements in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Kharkiv regions.

President Vladimir Putin said in March that Russia should look to create a buffer zone in Sumy region, which borders Kursk.

Ukraine reported there were 33 clashes in the Kursk direction overnight.

“Our soldiers inflicted significant losses in manpower and equipment on the occupation forces, and are also actively undermining the enemy’s offensive potential in the rear.”