According to the head of the White House, Ukraine is late “at least three weeks.”
“We hope he [соглашение о недрах] They will sign it immediately. Work on a general peace agreement between [страной-агрессором] Russia and Ukraine are going smoothly. It seems that success is not far off! ”Trump wrote.
Trump suggested that the agreement on minerals could be signed on April 24. However, the minister The finances of Ukraine Sergei Marchenko reported on April 24 to Reuters that during this week the agreement would not be signed, although he emphasized that the Ukrainian side is working on the document “as fast as they can.”
On April 23, the Ukrainian group met with the US Minister of Finance Scott Besent to discuss the agreement, as well as issues of Russian assets frozen by the West due to Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Context
Ukraine and the United States agreed to sign an agreement on the access of Americans to Ukrainian natural resources. At first, it was only about rare earth metals, but then the terms of the transaction were expanded. The approval of the text lasted several weeks, there were several options for the project. The Ukrainian side wants the document to be prescribed by clear security guarantees that, as part of the US agreement, will provide Ukraine, and also that the conditions of the need to compensate for the help provided to Ukraine are not prescribed there. Zelensky said that Ukraine “It should not recognize grants as debts, like it or not like it. “
The agreement was planned to be signed in Washington on February 28, however, at a briefing in the White House between Zelensky, Trump and US Victor, a dispute arose. The Americans accused Zelensky of “ingratitude” and “disrespect”. As a result, the Ukrainian delegation left the White House ahead of schedule, did not sign the agreements, and Trump said that Zelensky was not ready for the world with the participation of the United States.
On April 1, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrei Sibiga said that the two countries are working on an expanded agreement on mineral resources, which will be mutually acceptable to both parties and in no case contradict the entry of Ukraine to the EU. Prior to this, he confirmed that Ukraine began consultations on the text of an agreement on minerals, which was proposed by the American side.
April 11 Reuters, citing a source, reported that the United States and Ukraine held intense negotiations under an agreement on mining, the prospects for achieving a breakthrough remain small due to the “antagonistic” atmosphere of discussions.
