Ukraine raises case for not signing mineral agreement with US

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on March 28 that he would not sign a mineral agreement with the United States if the agreement threatened Ukraine's accession to the European Union (EU), according to The Kyiv Independent news site.

Mr Zelensky made the announcement a day after the Financial Times reported that the latest version of the proposed US deal includes provisions that would grant Washington unprecedented control over Ukraine's natural resources through a joint investment fund.

Ukrainian President unexpectedly cautious about not signing mineral agreement with US

Such an agreement could conflict with Ukraine's accession to the EU due to severe restrictions that would affect Ukraine's economic sovereignty, according to Yevropeiska Pravda. "The Ukrainian constitution clearly states that our path is towards the EU. It is unacceptable to accept anything that could threaten Ukraine's accession to the EU," Zelensky stressed.

President Zelensky in Kyiv on March 28

Washington had initially planned to sign the deal on February 28, but the signing was postponed after a heated argument between US President Donald Trump and President Zelensky at the White House. Mr. Zelensky confirmed on March 25 that the US had proposed a “large” mineral deal based on the previous framework agreement, but he did not specify a time frame for signing.

According to the original version, the agreement would establish a fund to which Ukraine would contribute 50 percent of the proceeds from the future exploitation of state-owned resources, including oil and gas. The White House has described the mineral deal with Kyiv as a mechanism for Washington to “recoup” some of the financial aid the United States has provided to Ukraine.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ukraine-neu-truong-hop-khong-ky-thoa-thuan-khoang-san-voi-my-185250329210331886.htm