Wanting to be 'discreet' about mineral deal with US, Ukraine reveals current status of major deal

On March 28, Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak announced that consultations with the US on the mineral agreement are still ongoing and the two sides have not agreed on the final draft.

The mineral deal between the US and Ukraine has yet to reach a concrete result. (Source: inventure)

In a statement to reporters, Mr. Podolyak only said that “consultations are still underway at the level of different ministries,” but refused to provide details.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the US of changing the terms of Ukraine's mineral deal. According to Mr. Zelensky, instead of a framework agreement, the US is proposing a full agreement.

Ukrainian parliamentarian Yaroslav Zheleznyak said that the new draft agreement on Ukraine's resources proposed by the US is not beneficial to Ukraine. According to him, this document recognizes US participation in the management of all mineral resources, including oil and gas, but does not mention ensuring Ukraine's security.

The Financial Times quoted Ukrainian officials as saying that the US is seeking new conditions for access to key resources and energy assets in Ukraine, expanding economic demands on Kiev, including control of some assets such as Ukraine's nuclear power plants.

Meanwhile, on the same day, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said that the country would clarify its stance on the new draft mineral agreement drafted by the US after reaching consensus, but warned against public discussion of the document's content.

Any such public discussion would be harmful and hinder "constructive" negotiations with the United States, she said.

In February, the two sides planned to sign a mineral agreement but it could not be implemented at the last minute due to a heated argument between President Zelensky and his US counterpart Donald Trump at the White House.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/muon-kin-dao-ve-thoa-thuan-khoang-san-voi-my-ukraine-revealed-tinh-trang-hien-tai-cua-thuong-vu-lon-309217.html