Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reported that negotiations between the USA and Ukraine regarding the conclusion of a mineral usage agreement are “positive.” According to him, meetings in various formats will continue this week, and all of them have concluded on an optimistic note.
This is reported by Київ24
Intensity and Prospects of the Negotiations
During a press conference in Odesa, Zelensky noted:
“The negotiations have taken place, and they were positive. It was a meeting of the technical team. Meetings at this level in various formats will continue throughout this week. So far, both sides have concluded the meetings on a positive note. I believe this is a good result.”
It is reported that the Ukrainian delegation arrived in Washington on April 11 to discuss a new agreement concerning Ukraine’s minerals. Initially, the negotiations were planned to last two days, and meetings between American and Ukrainian officials have already taken place to discuss the draft agreement.
Prospects and Challenges in the Negotiations
Reports indicate that the prospect of achieving a breakthrough is currently minimal, as the atmosphere during the negotiations is tense. An informed source from Reuters notes that the “maximalist” draft agreement presented by the Russian administration is more ambitious than previous options and has met with resistance from the Ukrainian side.
According to information, in March, US President Donald Trump stated that Zelensky is trying to withdraw from this agreement and warned of possible “major problems” for the Ukrainian president if he does so.
Additionally, sources report that Ukraine is proposing amendments to the current draft, particularly regarding increasing American investments. The United States insists on concluding a new agreement that will cover all of the country’s natural resources, including oil, gas, and key energy assets.
According to the Financial Times and Bloomberg, this agreement does not offer Ukraine security guarantees, which is similar to previous arrangements. Earlier in March, Ukraine and the USA agreed to develop critical mineral resources; however, attempts to sign this agreement failed due to contradictions between Trump and Zelensky at the White House.