Ukraine allocates ₴113 million for consultations ahead of U.S. mineral resources deal

This is stated in Decree No. 316-r.

It is noted that the Cabinet allocated UAH 113 million to protect Ukraine’s national interests and define its official position. The funds will go toward consulting services for drafting the mineral agreement.

Specifically, the Ministry of Economy received UAH 59 million, and the Ministry of Justice was allocated UAH 54 million.

The Ministry of Finance was instructed to provide these funds on a non-refundable basis using money from the state budget’s reserve fund.

In addition, the Cabinet instructed the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Justice to involve consultants from “leading international law firms in preparing Ukraine’s negotiating positions” on the mineral agreement by April 15.

Mineral resources agreement

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday, March 27, that the United States had proposed signing a full mineral resources agreement immediately instead of a framework version.

On March 28, media reported that the administration of US President Donald Trump had added a condition to the mineral agreement requiring Ukraine to repay all assistance the U.S. provided after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

During government question hour in the Verkhovna Rada on March 28, Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed that the government had received a draft mineral agreement from the United States and that Ukraine was working on its position.

Later, Zelenskyy commented on the new American draft for an agreement on Ukrainian rare earth minerals, saying it included points that both sides had earlier rejected.

On March 31, US President Donald Trump said that the Ukrainian leader wanted to walk away from an important mineral agreement.

That same day, it was reported that Ukraine and the US had held their first discussion on the American draft agreement on minerals.

On April 4, Zelenskyy said that lawyers would present the main provisions of Ukraine’s draft agreement on rare earth minerals with the U.S. next week.