Ukraine has completed all legal procedures to implement a strategic minerals agreement with the U.S., a deal that grants Washington preferential access to Ukrainian critical minerals while establishing a bilateral investment fund for postwar reconstruction, Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced Tuesday.
Key Provisions:
- Investment Fund: A U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund will direct capital into Ukraine’s recovery for 10 years, with minerals revenues as collateral.
- Defense Linkage: The deal is expected to unlock U.S. weapons shipments, including Patriot air defense systems, crucial against Russian strikes.
- Geopolitical Win: The revised agreement addresses earlier Ukrainian criticisms of “colonial” terms by ensuring EU accession compatibility and safeguarding national interests.
Negotiation Backdrop:
- The deal follows heated Oval Office talks between Trump and Zelensky, culminating in parliamentary ratification last week.
- Svyrydenko called it a “new model of partnership” with the U.S., balancing economic recovery and security needs.
Ukraine Finalizes U.S. Minerals Deal, Paving Way for Reconstruction Fund and Defense Aid