US‑Ukraine resource deal sparks parliamentary uproar
The echoes of the uproar in the Ukrainian parliament are not fading away. Members quarreled over the provisions of a new version of the agreement on Ukrainian resources, proposed by the USA. - Ukraine wakes up in shock. We resisted one colonial empire, only to face actions from another superpower trying to seize our country - comments Nedim Useinow, a Ukrainian political scientist, for WP.
It all started with information emerging in the Ukrainian media. It was revealed that the USA aims to control the extraction of all significant raw materials in Ukraine. This includes not only rare earth metals, which were mentioned before, but also oil and gas.
According to Jarosław Żelaźniak, a deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, such provisions were found in the draft American-Ukrainian agreement. Żelaźniak warned that the document does not mention security guarantees. In his view, the American version of the draft agreement involves taking all income from resource extraction abroad. It is only afterward that the money collected in a special fund account will be shared between the United States and Ukraine.
The discussion on this topic turned into quite a commotion. The Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, had no choice and decided to interrupt the session.
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 polarised, very diverse Ukrainian political scene was dormant for three years. Now it is feeling impulses coming from outside and starting to react. Political forces are doubling their activation - WP reports Useinow.
And as he reveals, Donald Trump's administration tried to send signals to opponents of Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
- They "cast a line" to test the readiness for potential cooperation in the future. So far, neither Yulia Tymoshenko nor Petro Poroshenko have accepted the American proposal of cooperation against Zelenskyy. Ukrainian politicians see that Americans are acting inconsistently - comments the Crimean political scientist.
As Useinow recalls, Trump first demanded access to rare earth metals, and then began expanding demands.
- Besides minerals, there are now expectations for access to oil, gas, and very profitable power plants. Consequently, Ukraine wakes up in shock. We resisted one colonial empire, only to face actions from another superpower trying to seize our country - asserts Useinow.
And he emphasises that currently, the USA wants access to all natural resources that determine 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 to this. And this sentiment is reflected in the Ukrainian parliament - comments the Crimean political scientist.
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 fortnight.
According to Deputy Żelaźniak, there will be "further negotiations and changes" on 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.
- And now he has to convince politicians from his Servant of the People party, severely "battered" by the war, about its provisions. This is not easy, especially since Trump's administration continuously adds new demands. The United States can bid high and raise the stakes, but ultimately, they will get what the nation and the Ukrainian parliament agree to. The devil is in the details - emphasises the Crimean political scientist.
