By Ben Aris in Berlin Ukraine has signed a preliminary memorandum of understanding with the US on the controversial minerals deal after months of wrangling, but many important details of the deal still need to be agreed,

Ukraine's government has announced the signing of the outline of a minerals deal between the war-torn country and the US. Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said the memorandum of intent paved the way for what she called an economic partnership agreement.

The signed memorandum of understanding was thin on details, and the White House did not comment. But President Trump has said he expects to sign a full minerals deal with Kyiv soon.