Vladimir Putin says he is in favor of American investments in minerals from occupied territories of Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday he welcomed American investment to exploit strategic minerals in the Ukrainian territories occupied by the Russian army. "We are ready to attract foreign partners to our new historical territories that have been returned to Russia. There are certain reservations. We are ready to work with our partners, including Americans, in the new regions," Putin said in a televised interview.

The remarks come as Kiev and Washington are in talks over a deal that would give U.S. companies access to Ukraine's strategic minerals. U.S. President Donald Trump wants the deal to compensate Washington for the military and financial aid it has already provided, and his administration has increased pressure on Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to sign the document.

Volodymyr Zelensky had rejected a first version of the agreement, claiming that "Ukraine is not for sale" . A second version is currently under discussion, according to Kiev and Washington. Donald Trump assured Monday that an agreement on minerals with Ukraine is "very close" . Some of Ukraine's mineral resources are currently located in territories controlled by the Russian army and other deposits are threatened by its advances on the front.

Asked about this agreement on Monday, Vladimir Putin assured that "it is not (his) business" . On the other hand, he ordered the Russian government to develop the sector of strategic minerals and rare earths in Russia, so that "the production of these products is multiplied by several times" . Vladimir Putin also invited American companies to invest in strategic minerals on Russian territory.

European Commissioner for Industrial Strategy Stéphane Séjourné, for his part, mentioned on Monday, during a meeting with the Ukrainian government, an agreement between Ukraine and the EU on "critical materials" which would be, in his words, "mutually beneficial" to both parties.