THE US and Ukraine have finally signed the long-awaited minerals deal that gives access to Ukraine’s natural resources.
The agreement, which would give the United States access to Ukraine’s mineral deposits, is central to Kyiv’s efforts to mend ties with Trump.
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And for the White House, it is a bid to secure a peace settlement in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The deal will provide the US privileged access to new investment projects to develop Ukraine’s natural resources, including aluminium, graphite, oil and natural gas.
Ukraine and the US officials said today they were ready to sign a minerals deal imminently after months of sometimes fraught negotiations.
Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko was flying to the United States to sign the deal, the country’s prime minister said earlier.
After signing it, she wrote on X: “On behalf of the Government of Ukraine, I signed the Agreement on the Establishment of a United States–Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund.
“Together with the United States, we are creating the Fund that will attract global investment into our country.”
Donald Trump initially planned to close the deal when Volodymyr Zelensky visited the White House back in February.
But the deal was derailed after their historic – and disastrous – White House row, which saw a shouting match between them.
Ukraine and the US almost agreed to sign the deal today.
However, an eleventh-hour snag injected uncertainty into the timing.
A source said the US was pushing Ukraine to sign two additional documents and that Kyiv felt it was premature.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters at the White House: “Our side is ready to sign. The Ukrainians decided last night to make some last-minute changes.
“We’re sure that they will reconsider that, and we are ready, if they are.”
Bessent denied the US made any attempt to change the accord the two sides agreed to over the weekend.
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