Today at 20:05
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andriy Sybiha, confirmed that Ukraine is conducting consultations with the USA to achieve the signing of a “mutually acceptable text” of the mineral agreement.
The minister stated this on Tuesday during a briefing in Kyiv with the Foreign Minister of Lithuania.
Sybiha noted that on March 28, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received a new text of the so-called mineral resources agreement from the American side through diplomatic channels.
“The Ukrainian side was ready to sign the previously developed framework agreement. Now we have received a proposal for development and, accordingly, a new text of the agreement,” Sybiha noted.
The minister emphasized that Ukraine has its own legislation regarding the processing of such documents. “Accordingly, the necessary procedures have been carried out to begin the passage of the required internal state procedures,” the minister said.
He also confirmed that consultations with the American side regarding the text of the agreement have begun.
“One round of these consultations has already taken place. The Ukrainian side is determined to conclude a document that would mutually serve the national interests of both the USA and Ukraine,” Sybiha emphasized.
According to him, the text of the agreement, which will foresee a further strengthened presence of powerful American businesses, will also contribute to Ukraine’s security infrastructure.
“It is always important to strengthen the presence of American business in Ukraine. Therefore, this process will continue. We will work with our American colleagues to achieve a mutually acceptable text for signing,” the minister stressed.
Earlier, sources in the Presidential Office reported that Ukraine and the USA held a first lengthy discussion on the draft agreement on mineral resources.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on March 28 that Ukraine had received a new text of the agreement. At the time, he insisted that Ukraine was not ready to recognize the American aid provided in recent years as debt.
US President Donald Trump promised “big problems” for Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the weekend for refusing the subsoil agreement.
Read also: Trump: Secondary sanctions against Russia possible if Putin “fails his job”
