US won’t consider minerals deal as security guarantee for Ukraine - Rubio
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the minerals agreement will not be a guarantee of security for Ukraine.
This is reported by The Guardian, Censor.NET informs.
At the same time, he emphasized that such an agreement would give the United States an interest in protecting Ukraine through economic interest.
Rubio noted that Ukraine needs sufficient means to deter future attacks, and that European countries should be involved in this matter. He added that the minerals deal is beneficial for both sides, as it promotes long-term prosperity and economic growth for Ukraine, which will allow it to fund its defense.
"I wouldn't count it (the minerals agreement - ed.) as a security guarantee, but of course, if the United States has an economic interest in generating revenue for our people, the United States will have an interest in protecting them from threats," Rubio said.
Agreement on minerals with the United States
As a reminder, Trump has said he wants to sign a $500 billion 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 derailed the rare earth metals deal. The agreement was needed so that the United States could recover the money spent on supporting Ukraine.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has handed over to Ukraine an "improved" draft of the minerals agreement that "complies with Ukrainian law."
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that if the United States wants to see specific figures in the minerals agreement, then according to Ukrainian law, ratification by the Verkhovna Rada will be required.
On February 25, the Financial Times reports that Ukraine and the United States have agreed on the terms of the minerals agreement, and Kyiv is ready to sign the document.
On February 26, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the signing of the minerals agreement with the United States.
The agreement was supposed to be signed on February 28 at the White House, but due to a dispute between Trump and Zelenskyy, it did not happen.
