Ukraine probes mineral deal leak amid US tensions
Ukraine is investigating the leak of the American proposal concerning minerals. It is using lie detector tests for this purpose, reports the "Financial Times".
What do you need to know?
- What happened? Ukraine will investigate the disclosure of the contents of the American proposal concerning rare earth minerals. The leak of this information has caused tensions between Kyiv and the Trump administration.
- Why is it important? The US proposal regarding minerals and energy is crucial for Ukraine but does not include formal security guarantees, which raises further concerns in Kyiv.
- What's next? Ukrainian officials are working on changes to the US proposal, which are to be presented during a visit to Washington.
Details of the leak agreement
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky ordered the security service to investigate the leak of the American proposal regarding minerals. The investigation includes lie detector tests, a controversial method but often used by Ukrainian law enforcement agencies.
The leak of documents was discovered on 26th March - after details of the agreement were published by opposition MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak. He claims to have received "a copy of the document".
On 27th March, the content of the document was published by the "Financial Times", confirming that the editorial team also received a copy of the document.
The "Financial Times" remarks that the investigation was initiated during a period of escalating tensions between Kyiv and the Trump administration regarding the terms of the proposed agreement on key mineral and energy resources. As part of the investigation, employees from several Ukrainian ministries have already been questioned.
The Ukrainian president expressed astonishment at the leak. "Itʼs interesting to me: I havenʼt read it yet, but the deputies already know everything that will be in the agreement. Itʼs strange. I wonder who is giving them this information. This is very interesting. I would like to know for myself," said Volodymyr Zelensky a few days ago.
What are the reactions to the US proposal?
The Trump administration proposed expanding a previous agreement with Ukraine, but without formal security guarantees. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent believes that investments in the Ukrainian mineral sector will in themselves deter Russia. However, there is scepticism in Kyiv about this opinion.
Ukrainian officials are working on changes to the American proposal. The aim is to present the new draft during an upcoming visit to Washington. Zelensky emphasises that he will not accept any arrangements that could undermine Ukraine's integration with the European Union.
