New Ukraine-U.S. deal marks shift to investment, long-term cooperation

Journalist Kateryna Hanko reported for Espreso.

Svyrydenko emphasized: "This is a new model of cooperation with our strategic partner"

"This document is not just a legal structure; it is a new model of cooperation with our strategic partner. This is how the United States sees the foundation for collaboration with partners. Security must go hand in hand with the economy. Our agreement on economic partnership with America is structured in such a way that it provides all opportunities for security cooperation," Svyrydenko emphasized.

She also pointed out that the agreement does not include provisions about debt, but rather includes obligations to invest in Ukraine — a free and sovereign state.

"Such a specific and equal economic agreement has never existed in the history of relations between Ukraine and the United States," she stressed.

The document is balanced, Svyrydenko continued, noting that the U.S. is interested in long-term cooperation with Ukraine, willing to openly and extensively invest in Ukraine’s economy, natural resources, industry, and infrastructure. The key management principle is a 50/50 partnership between the U.S. and Ukraine.

"The agreement does not mention debts; only new investments. And it is very important that the investments will be exclusively in projects on Ukrainian territory," she noted.

Svyrydenko also highlighted that the agreement ensures the possibility of receiving new defense and other assistance from the U.S. administration and creates the necessary foundation for long-term relations.

Arakhamia: "This is a much broader agreement"

On the necessity of ratifying the agreement between Ukraine and the U.S., David Arakhamia, leader of the Servant of the People faction, commented.

"This really hasn’t happened in many years. And despite the difficult times for our country, even if there were no war, this issue would still be the most important in our economic history. Why? Because I can already say... the news alone about the strategic document between the United States and Ukraine has attracted interest from other foreign companies, not American ones, who see it as a signal from the U.S. that investment in Ukraine should continue even during the war," Arakhamia noted.

He also expressed the view that it would be wrong to reduce the agreement between Ukraine and the U.S. solely to the issue of minerals.

"Many people look at it too narrowly, saying that it's about minerals. They say it’s about permits for the use of our subsoil, and so on. It is a much broader agreement. It’s an agreement about technologies that we don’t have. It’s an agreement about educational technologies, which we also don’t have. It’s an agreement about large American companies that can enter and create an ecosystem in our country... At least several tens of thousands of new jobs can be predicted to be created due to this partnership," Arakhamia stated.

"We demanded a second reading of the bill," - Herasymov

Member of Parliament Artur Herasymov from the European Solidarity party also spoke, noting that his political force demanded a second reading of the bill "for the sake of the legal procedure."

"Why? Because Article 200 of the regulations clearly states that the bill on approval of an international agreement must be reviewed according to the procedure for the consideration of bills, as outlined in this chapter. But these provisions concern not the first or second readings but the introduction of reservations. Therefore, what you are doing by refusing the second reading is irresponsible, as it jeopardizes the legal integrity of this agreement," Herasymov said.

• On Thursday, May 8, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine approved the ratification of the agreement between Ukraine and the United States regarding minerals.