Munich: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Saturday he stopped his government from signing an agreement with the US on rare metals, citing concerns over national interests. Speaking at a news conference in Munich, Zelenskyy emphasized that the proposed agreement did not align with the interests of the Ukrainian people.

According to Anadolu Agency, President Donald Trump had suggested the US was owed $500 billion worth of Ukraine's resources in exchange for its assistance to the war-torn country. The decision by Zelenskyy highlights ongoing tensions between Ukraine and the US regarding resource management and national sovereignty.

In other developments, the US Ukraine envoy stated that Europe will be excluded from talks aimed at ending Russia's three-year-long war in Ukraine. Keith Kellogg mentioned that Europe would not be directly involved in Ukraine peace talks, citing the failure of the Minsk II agreement in 2015, which included France and Germany. European leaders have insisted on being part of any discussions to end the conflict, reflecting their vested interest in regional stability and peace.

Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan highlighted regional consensus on Syria's future. Speaking at a panel titled "New Dawn for Damascus: Prospects for Syria's Transition" at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Fidan stated that regional countries came together to discuss expectations from a new administration in Damascus following the Assad regime's fall. This consensus signals a unified regional approach towards Syria's future governance and reconstruction efforts.

The geopolitical landscape continues to evolve with these significant developments, as countries navigate complex international relations and security challenges.