Ukraine, U.S. to sign “certain parts” of minerals agreement this week — Ukrainian MP

Espreso correspondent Kateryna Halko reported the information.

"I’ve just returned from Washington, and I’m more than convinced that we will hear about the signing of a certain part of this agreement in the near future, likely this week. It will consist of, so to speak, a political part – how this fund is created, how it is regulated, and a technical part," Zheleznyak said.

He expressed confidence that, under Ukrainian law, the document still has to undergo ratification in parliament.

"Moreover, the procedure for operating this fund involves a large number of changes in Ukrainian laws and codes. I remind you that codes are usually changed separately. So if we amend the Budget Code, the Tax Code, or the Customs Code, these are separate bills and separate discussions, just like the budget," the MP explained.

He added that in parliament, two processes will be observed.

"First, the ratification of the agreement, and second, changes in Ukraine’s legislation to implement the agreement. That is, to implement its provisions," Zheleznyak noted.

The MP also noted that, according to drafts he saw, the agreement will be "much better and less controversial" than the one that appeared online on March 23.

"Right now, we are working on it. We have a British company involved, with its American office. They are doing very good work. And I think this agreement will not cause any controversy. Moreover, let’s say, its effect will be much longer than the theoretical work of this U.S. administration," Zheleznyak summarized.

Minerals deal: background

On Thursday, March 27, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the United States was offering to sign a full agreement on minerals instead of a framework agreement.

On March 28, the media reported that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump had returned to the mineral deal a requirement that Ukraine reimburse all the assistance the United States provided after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. 

During an hour of questions to the government in the Verkhovna Rada on March 28, Ukraine's Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed that the government had received a draft agreement from the United States on minerals, and Ukraine was formulating its position.

Later, Zelenskyy commented on the new American draft agreement on Ukrainian rare earth minerals and said that it contained things that the parties had previously rejected.

On March 31, U.S. President Donald Trump said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants to back out of a key mineral deal.

On the same day, it became known that Ukraine and the United States discussed the American draft of the minerals deal agreement for the first time.

On April 8, Bloomberg reported that delegations from Ukraine and the United States would discuss a minerals agreement on April 11-12.

On the same day, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that Ukraine had already developed its position on the minerals agreement with the United States and was now assembling a delegation for the talks.

On April 27, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal announced that Ukraine and the U.S. have agreed that previously provided U.S. assistance will not be counted in the mineral agreement.