Financial Times: Trump expands requirements for managing Ukraine's natural resources.

Trump expanded requirements for Ukraine's natural resources
Trump expanded requirements for Ukraine's natural resources

The US and Ukraine have agreed on a new deal regarding control over mineral and energy assets

According to the Financial Times, the US has a new draft agreement for Ukraine that significantly expands American control over the country's mineral and energy assets. The proposal, sent to Kyiv on Sunday, goes beyond the initial agreement reached last month.

The aim of this draft is to stop Russia's invasion and compensate for billions of dollars in military aid. However, the US is not providing any security guarantees for Ukraine.

High-ranking Ukrainian officials are seriously concerned about the new terms of the agreement. One of them considers the proposal 'unfair,' while another compares it to 'robbery.' They believe that this deal could undermine the country's sovereignty, funnel profits abroad, and increase dependency on Washington.

The main part of the draft is the establishment of a supervisory board that will manage a joint investment fund. This fund will control revenues from Ukrainian oil, gas, and mineral projects. Under the new terms, the US has the right to appoint three out of five members of the board of directors, giving them complete veto power over the fund.

The agreement covers not only mineral resources but also related infrastructure such as roads, railways, pipelines, ports, and processing plants across Ukraine.

Under the new terms, the US will receive royalties from the fund before Ukraine, with a premium of 4 percent. Additionally, the US retains priority rights on infrastructure projects and a veto right over the sale of resources to third parties. Funds obtained under the agreement will be converted into foreign currency and redirected abroad.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bassett stated that the agreement could be signed soon. However, Ukrainian officials consider this unlikely.

This new draft agreement will replace the previous framework agreement reached last month, which was never signed after the meeting between Trump and Zelensky in the Oval Office.

Although the agreement does not stipulate US ownership of Ukraine's nuclear energy infrastructure, Ukrainian officials are concerned about potential negotiations regarding these assets in the future.


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