Tension escalates over US‑Ukraine resource control deal
The controversy in the Ukrainian parliament continues to resonate, as lawmakers remain divided over the latest version of the U.S.-proposed agreement concerning Ukrainian resources. Ukrainian political analyst Nedim Useinow remarked that the country is in a state of shock, having pushed back against one colonial force only to face efforts by another global power to assert control.
Everything started when reports in the Ukrainian media revealed that the United States wants to control the extraction of all essential raw materials in Ukraine, including rare earth metals, previously mentioned, and oil and gas.
According to Jarosław Żelaźniak, a deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, such provisions were included in the draft American-Ukrainian agreement. Żelaźniak warned that the document does not mention security guarantees. He believes the American draft involves sending all income from resource extraction abroad. Only later will the funds collected in a special account be shared between the United States and Ukraine.
The discussion on this topic escalated into a commotion, and the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, had no choice but to interrupt the session.
Political scientist Nedim Useinow, an expert from the think tank The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) and originally from Crimea, explains in an interview with Wirtualna Polska that the stormy session results from ongoing discussions about ending the war and the prospect of signing an agreement.
Originating from Crimea, political scientist Nedim Useinow, an expert from the think tank The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), explains in an interview with Wirtualna Polska that the stormy session results from ongoing discussions about ending the war and the prospect of signing an agreement.
"Political forces in Ukraine are starting to activate"
The polarized and diverse Ukrainian political scene had been dormant for three years. But now, says Useinow, it is responding to external impulses and starting to react. "Political forces are doubling their activities," reports Useinow.
Useinow also reveals that Donald Trump's administration attempted to send signals to opponents of Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"They cast a line" to test readiness for potential cooperation in the future. So far, neither Yulia Tymoshenko nor Petro Poroshenko has accepted the American proposal of cooperation against Zelenskyy. Ukrainian politicians see that Americans are acting inconsistently, notes the Crimean political scientist.
As Useinow recalls, Trump first demanded access to rare earth metals, and then began expanding demands.
Apart from minerals, there are now expectations for access to oil, gas, and highly profitable power plants. As a result, Ukraine wakes up in shock. We resisted one colonial empire, and now another superpower is taking action to seize our country, asserts Useinow.
Useinow emphasizes that the United States currently wants access to all natural resources critical to Ukraine's future.
- So that Ukraine becomes a pawn in the business of the United States, Russia, or China. The Ukrainian society will not agree with this, and this sentiment is reflected in the Ukrainian parliament, according to Crimean political scientists.
What's next for the US-Ukraine resource agreement?
Formally, the resource agreement must be ratified by parliament. After Thursday's commotion, the bill on this matter will not be processed for the next two weeks.
According to Deputy Żelaźniak, there will be "further negotiations and changes" to the agreement. "As is usually the case in negotiations, the USA immediately raised the stakes sky-high," said Żelaźniak.
As Useinow recalls, Zelenskyy has so far only signed a declaration on concluding the agreement.
Now he must persuade members of his Servant of the People party, deeply affected by the war, to support the proposed measures. This task is challenging, mainly due to the Trump administration’s ongoing introduction of new demands. While the United States can push for more and escalate its position, the outcome will depend on what the Ukrainian parliament and the nation are willing to accept. The real challenge lies in the finer points, the Crimean political analyst emphasizes.
