Ukraine has reached an agreement with the United States on minerals. This was confirmed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyj's office to the Ukrainian media Kyiv Independent on Tuesday evening. Previously, several unnamed Ukrainian officials had told the Financial Times that there was agreement on a framework for an agreement.
A senior source in the Ukrainian government confirmed to the AFP news agency that Ukraine may already sign the agreement on Friday. Here, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj plans to travel to Washington D.C. to meet with US President Donald Trump, Reuters writes, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.
US President Donald Trump also told reporters on Tuesday evening that Zelenskyj plans to go to Washington D.C., Reuters writes.
- I hear he's coming on Friday. That's absolutely fine with me if he wants to. And he will sign it (the agreement, ed.) with me, Trump said.
The senior source in the Ukrainian government adds that the United States has removed several parts of the agreement that Ukraine opposed. The United States is also said to have dropped a demand to get $500 billion in potential earnings from the extraction of natural resources in Ukraine.
- They removed all the sections that did not suit us, especially regarding the $500 billion, says AFP's source.
None of the sources are named.
Does not contain security guarantees
The Ukrainian government is now ready to sign the agreement on joint extraction of minerals and metals, the sources tell the Financial Times. The final version of the agreement, which the Financial Times has seen, does not contain the security guarantees that Ukraine has requested.
A fund will instead be established, where Ukraine will put 50 percent of the revenues from, among other things, minerals, oil and gas. This fund will invest in projects in Ukraine, writes the Financial Times.
It has not been determined how large a share of the fund the United States will receive. This and other major issues will be clarified in later agreements, writes the newspaper. The final version of the minerals agreement, which the Financial Times has seen, is dated February 24.
Earlier on Tuesday, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister, Olga Stefanishyna, told the Financial Times that the agreement on Ukraine's minerals is part of a larger context.
- We have heard several times from the US administration that it is part of a larger picture, she told the newspaper.
The first draft of an agreement presented to Ukraine included a requirement that Ukraine should hand over rare earths and minerals to the US for $500 billion. This corresponds to around DKK 3555 billion.
Since 2022, the US has helped Ukraine with both humanitarian aid and a large amount of weapons and ammunition. Trump claims that the US has given at least $300 billion to Ukraine. But according to Zelenskyj, the US has supplied Ukraine with weapons worth $67 billion and given a further $31.5 billion. dollars in direct aid. He said this according to Reuters.
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