Ukraine's PM seeks US partnership in mineral talks
The Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, will visit Washington next week to finalize negotiations regarding the use of Ukrainian mineral deposits by the USA, according to a copy of a letter of intent published by the government in Kyiv.
What do you need to know?
- When and where will the talks take place? Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal will meet with the U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington on 24th April 2025.
- What is the purpose of the visit? The purpose is to finalize negotiations on an agreement for the use of Ukrainian mineral deposits by the USA.
- What are the next steps? The negotiating teams are to report on their progress by 26th April 2025, to complete the agreement as soon as possible.
The meeting between the Prime Minister of Ukraine and the U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, set for next week, aims to finalise negotiations that are crucial for the future economic partnership between both countries.
The Prime Minister of Ukraine flies to Washington
The signing of the Memorandum of Intent paves the way for an Economic Partnership Agreement and the establishment of an Investment Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine. Technical talks on this subject took place on 11-12th April in Washington.
"Negotiating teams are expected to report on the progress by April 26, 2025, with the aim of completing discussions by that date and signing as soon as possible," the letter of intent states.
The memorandum noted that the parties considered the significant financial and material support given to Ukraine by the United States since the full invasion by Russia in February 2022, the American people's desire to invest in a free, sovereign, and secure Ukraine, the pursuit of lasting peace in Ukraine and strong partnership between their nations and governments by the United States and Ukraine, as well as the recognition by both sides of Ukraine's contribution to international peace and security through the voluntary relinquishment by Ukraine of the world's third-largest nuclear weapons arsenal, Interfax-Ukraine reported.
"The United States respects Ukraine's intention to avoid conflicts in developing an agreement with its commitments under accession to the European Union or agreements with international financial institutions and other official creditors," the document emphasised.
The Reuters agency reported, citing an unnamed Ukrainian Deputy Finance Minister, that the talks regarding the signing of the minerals agreement with the U.S. will take place in Washington on 24th April.
Previous plans to sign the agreement were delayed by a turbulent meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky. The presence of American companies in Ukraine is to serve as an additional deterrent to further Russian aggression.
