BEIJING, February 27. /TASS/. The Kiev regime will face a complete breakdown in relations with the new US government if it does not consider signing a partnership agreement on minerals with the United States, Zhang Hong, a researcher at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said.

"What we can tell is that Ukraine is dissatisfied with the mineral deal, but eventually it may have to sign," the Global Times quoted Zhang as saying. The expert noted that Ukraine hopes "to exchange resources for security."

"Perhaps Ukraine will still have to sign the agreement, as Kiev believes that refusal may lead to a sharp break in relations with the administration of US President Donald Trump. For Ukraine, US support is now indispensable," Zhang stressed.

Although a deal offered to Ukraine by the European Union "may be fairer than that of the US, it comes too late," the expert believes. Kiev has made its resources "a key tool in its foreign policy and security strategy," Zhang said.

"However, does signing an agreement guarantee Ukraine's security? From the current perspective, it seems that the Trump administration is more focused on US-Russia strategic stability, easing tensions between the US and Russia, and the US pivoting its strategic focus from Europe to Asia," Zhang said," Zhang noted.

He said Ukraine signing the agreement "simply prevents a complete deterioration in US-Ukraine relations or a total break," which just "maintains a fragile form of US support" for Kiev.