New US‑Ukraine deal seeks deeper control over critical minerals
The USA is preparing for another agreement with Ukraine regarding access to mineral resources, reported the "Financial Times" on Friday. Previously, in February, the agreement could not be signed due to a dispute between the presidents of both countries. The new version is expected to grant the USA greater rights compared to the original.
- The USA is striving to sign a new agreement with Ukraine regarding access to mineral resources in the country, reports the "Financial Times".
- It is supposed to provide the USA with greater rights than the initial version.
- Previous talks between the leaders of the USA and Ukraine ended in a disagreement, and the agreement was not signed.
According to the "Financial Times," Washington wants the arrangements with Kyiv to also include issues of ownership and control of a joint investment fund, as well as assuming US ownership in assets such as Ukrainian nuclear power plants.
Ukraine is of particular interest
President Donald Trump, in his Thursday address at the White House, emphasized that the USA is interested in signing agreements regarding rare earth metals and minerals worldwide, but Ukraine is of particular interest.
- We’re doing very well with regard to Ukraine and Russia. And one of the things we are doing is signing a deal very shortly with respect to rare earths with Ukraine - declared Trump.
The matter of Ukraine's electricity supply and the future of Ukrainian nuclear power plants were supposed to be discussed by Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a phone call they had on Wednesday. Washington stated that the USA could be "very helpful in running the plants with its electricity and utility expertise." It was also emphasized that American ownership provides the "best protection" for Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Zelensky stated that he only discussed one nuclear facility with Trump - the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Since March 2022, this largest facility of its kind in Europe has been controlled by Russia.
The subject of negotiations between Ukraine and the USA has caused concern among some Ukrainian circles, reports the "Financial Times". Opposition lawmaker Inna Sovsun expressed her worries on social media, writing: "Since when does surrendering a strategic sector to a foreign country equal security? Sounds more like a takeover than protection."
