Agreement on mineral resources between Ukraine and US is ready for signing - Bessent
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump are to sign a subsoil deal on 28 February.
This was stated by US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Censor.NET reports with reference to Suspilne.
"It (the agreement - Ed.) is complete, it is on paper, and the Ukrainian government has approved it. The heads of state are expected to sign it tomorrow (28 February - Ed.). This is an agreement on minerals, oil, gas and infrastructure assets. It is a truly mutually beneficial agreement because it brings the Ukrainian people and the American business community closer together," Bessent explained.
According to him, the agreement shows the American people the benefits for Washington and that it "eliminates the possibility of any corruption using the best American practices".
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.
On 25 February, the Financial Times reported that Ukraine and the United States had agreed on the terms of a deal on minerals, and that Kyiv was ready to sign the document.
On 26 February, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the signing of a subsoil agreement with the United States.
