American mineral deal strikes an obstacle at the last minute

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The United States and Ukraine achieved obstacles at the last minute on Wednesday, as they were about to sign a framework for the exploitation of Ukraine minerals.

The agreement, which was scheduled to sign it after the marathon negotiations, which were seen by the financial Times, said the United States and Ukraine – By developing Kyiv’s natural resources and creating a joint investment fund – “it seeks to create the necessary conditions for … Increasing investment in mining, energy and relevant technology in Ukraine.”

Yulia Sfaidinko, First Deputy Prime Minister, Yulia Sfaidinko, told Washington on Wednesday to sign the deal with US Treasury Secretary Scott Payette.

But problems arose as the SVYDENKO plane headed to the United States, and the Bessent team told it that it “should be ready to sign all agreements, or go home,” said three people familiar with this issue.

Three people who were informed of the situation said that the Americans want the Ukrainians to sign the framework deal, a second detailed fund agreement that would complete the full metal deal and a third technical document on Wednesday.

A person familiar with US thinking on Wednesday said that Ukraine sought to reconsider the agreed conditions on the weekend, and that Svydenko had been informed of not flying to the United States until the agreements were completed.

The person said that the adherent points related to the ruling, the mechanism of transparency and the funding of money. But it is still possible to sign the deal early on Wednesday if Ukraine returns to the original conditions.

“President Trump said the time to complete this is now, and we are moving with deliberate speed towards this end,” said US Treasury spokesman.

The Ukrainians said that the United States account is inaccurate, and that they were unable to sign all documents on Wednesday because the fund’s agreement should be ratified by the parliament of their country.

“You will not be happy with anything,” said one of the Ukrainian officials. They said: “We are ready to sign the frame deal today,” but they added that the opportunities were a little better than “50-50”.

Amid the tremors on Wednesday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Dennis Shmeisal said: “Once all the final details are placed, which I hope will happen within the next 24 hours, the agreement will be signed and we will take the first step.”

This framework does not explicitly provide security guarantees for us, which Ukraine sought, but calls on the agreement “an expression of a broader and long -term strategy alignment … and a concrete demonstration to support the United States for Ukraine’s security, prosperity, reconstruction and integration in global economic frameworks.”

The latest version of the Mineral Agreement was reached after KYIV obtained a great waiver from the Trump administration that only future military aid is the American contribution to the deal.

The development will celebrate a big step forward in the rocky relationship between Washington and Kiev after canceling a signing ceremony for a previous version of the deal in February after a The general argument At the Oval Office between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodimir Zellinski.

After this clash, Trump He insisted that billions of dollars in previous US military aid are treated as loans to pay them through the agreement, which is the suggestion of Zelenskyy. A team of negotiators in Trump sent a new proposal that shows that only previous military aid to Kiev will consider the United States’ contribution to the deal.

On Sunday, Shmyhal said this line has been removed after Ukraine clearly defined “red lines”. He spoke from Washington after an “important meeting” with Bessent to put the final details.

In the weeks that passed on the meeting of the Oval Office that went out of its path – and after Kiev worked with an American law firm to help negotiations – the talks became more “constructive”, as Ukrainian officials said.

Kiev and Washington signed a intention earlier this month, pledged to submit an agreement on the investment fund in part of the deal covering natural resources and energy assets in Ukraine.

The deal determines that after a valid, any new American military aid is considered “including donation of arms, ammunition, technology, or training systems” as a contribution by the United States.

Trump has expressed his increasing patience about the suspension ceasefire talks, and expressed doubts about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s readiness to participate seriously in a peace framework that he had hoped for in the mediator during the first 100 days in his post.