US minerals deal does not include direct military guarantees for Ukraine - Bessent
The agreement on strategic minerals between Ukraine and the United States will provide Kyiv with ‘economic security guarantees’, but does not include direct military guarantees for Ukraine from the United States.
According to Censor.NET, citing DW, this was stated by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
"This agreement is part of President Trump's strategy to achieve peace between Ukraine and Russia, and <...> allows Ukrainians to return <...> to a peaceful existence," the media quoted Bessent as saying.
At the same time, Bessent stressed that the agreement does not include direct military guarantees for Ukraine from the United States, but contains a ‘tacit guarantee’ that the United States will ‘invest heavily in the economic future’ of the country, thus providing it with ‘a guarantee of economic security’.
"The more assets American companies have on the ground, the greater the US interest in the Ukrainian economy developing well, the more security it creates for the Ukrainian people, and the <...> higher the profitability for US taxpayers," the minister explained.
Earlier it was reported that the agreement stipulates that revenues from Ukraine's natural resources and minerals will be directed to a special fund for the long-term reconstruction and development of Ukraine.
Fossil fuel agreement with the US
As a reminder, Trump has said he wants to strike a $500bn deal with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on access to rare earth resources and natural gas in Ukraine in exchange for security guarantees in any potential peace settlement.
President Zelenskyy said that the agreement with the US on minerals would be signed at the ministerial level when ready and subject to guarantees. Currently, this document is not ready to protect Ukraine's interest.
Later, Trump said that Ukraine had broken the deal on rare earth metals. The agreement was needed so that the US could recover the money spent on supporting Ukraine.
The administration of US President Donald Trump has handed over to Ukraine an "improved" draft minerals agreement that "complies with Ukrainian law".
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that if the US wants to see specific figures in the minerals agreement, then according to Ukrainian law, ratification by the Verkhovna Rada will be required.
