First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yuliya Svyrydenko confirmed that the Ukrainian government had received the text of the minerals agreement from the US, Interfax-Ukraine reports.
“This is a working version, which essentially reflects the position of US legal advisers. We are forming our position, and now the process is also formalised,” she said in the Verkhovna Rada during an hour of questions to the government.
“When necessary, we will, of course, bring the consultation to the Verkhovna Rada. […] Any public discussions on the text of this agreement […] are only harmful to negotiations and prevent us from having a constructive discussion with our American partners,” Svyrydenko stressed.
According to her, once a consensus is reached, the government will present its official position to the Verkhovna Rada.
Minerals agreement with the US
- Ukrainian and American teams worked on the document but initially developed only a framework agreement to establish a joint investment fund. A more detailed document with specific figures and regulations was to follow, requiring approval from the Verkhovna Rada. However, even the framework agreement has not yet been signed, as a dispute in the Oval Office during the Ukrainian president’s visit stalled progress.
- Despite this, Ukraine demonstrated its willingness to finalise the agreement, prompting both sides to continue negotiations. On 25 March, President Zelenskyy announced that Kyiv had received a new, broader draft of the minerals agreement from Washington.
- According to MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak, the new agreement requires the US to grant Ukraine access to all minerals, including oil and gas. He stated that this document was handed over to Kyiv over the weekend. LB’s sources in the President’s Office noted that the key points align with those previously received from Washington.
- Later, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine and the US had initially agreed on a framework agreement on minerals, followed by a full agreement. However, the US is now pushing for an immediate full agreement, which must be reviewed and approved by the Verkhovna Rada.