Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed recent economic developments on Friday, dismissing concerns about U.S. tariffs and announcing progress on a strategic mineral deal with the United States.

Speaking at a press conference, Zelensky stated that the newly imposed 10% reciprocal tariff by President Donald Trump on Ukrainian goods would not significantly affect his country's economy. He explained that the bilateral trade volume, which ranges from $3.5 to $3.8 billion, remains steady and largely insulated from the impact of U.S. trade policies. "These are not the volumes about which we can say today that there are any problems. For us, this is not a problem," he said.

Zelensky also noted that Ukraine had previously been subjected to a 25% tariff on metallurgy exports, which was lifted during the early stages of the war and has since been reinstated. He emphasized that the volume of arms supplies between the two nations does not influence this trade segment.

In addition to trade, Zelensky revealed that Ukraine is preparing to finalize a rare earths and minerals agreement with the U.S. He confirmed that he will meet with a legal committee next week to discuss the draft proposal and review all critical terms of the deal. "Early next week, I will have a big meeting with our team, where I will be presented with all the points that satisfy us or that will be responsible for reflecting fairness in the deal in our opinion," Zelensky explained.

He added that after his review, Ukraine’s technical team would be ready to travel to the United States for direct talks with American partner agencies. The statement follows confirmation last week by Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko that Kiev had received a new draft proposal from Washington.

The developments mark an important phase in U.S.-Ukraine economic cooperation as the two nations look to strengthen their strategic partnership through the exchange of critical minerals and mutually beneficial trade policies. While tensions continue globally over tariff disputes, Zelensky’s remarks underline Ukraine’s pragmatic approach and focus on long-term economic resilience.