The Donald Trump administration is seeking new terms for US access to Ukraine's critical mineral resources and energy assets. This comes amid negotiations for a peace deal with Russia and Washington's expanding economic demands on Kyiv. This is reported by the Financial Times, writes UNN.
Details
According to the Financial Times, the US wants to secure control over a joint investment fund covering mineral resources, oil, gas and part of Ukraine's strategic infrastructure. In addition, the American side proposes to transfer the management of Ukrainian nuclear power plants, including the Zaporizhzhia NPP, which has been under the control of Russian troops since 2022.
This would be tantamount to renewing an as-yet-unsigned mineral supply agreement that was struck days before the public feud between Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House.
Speaking at the White House on Thursday, Trump said the US intends to sign agreements on rare earth metals and minerals around the world, but special attention is being paid to Ukraine.
"We are doing well in our relationship with Ukraine and Russia, and one of our things is to sign an agreement with Ukraine on rare earth metals in the near future," he said, but did not elaborate.
Ukrainian officials have said they are concerned that they may be pressured to accept unfavorable terms in a broader deal, especially after Washington temporarily suspended arms shipments and intelligence sharing with Kyiv earlier this month.
Two senior Ukrainian officials involved in negotiations with the US on Ukraine's mineral resources said the Trump administration has not yet presented Kyiv with new terms.
"But I understand that... they are working on a larger agreement," said one of the officials, who, like the others, spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussion.
A White House National Security Council spokesman said that "economic partnership related to minerals, energy and economic growth that are critical to both countries remains a subject of discussion," and then added: "At this stage, we have gone beyond it to focus on a broad ceasefire and a path to lasting peace."
At the same time, Ukraine wanted to act slowly and first discuss the mineral agreement before touching on other potential aspects of American investment, the publication notes.
Reminder
White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt said Donald Trump told Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the US could be very helpful in managing Ukrainian nuclear power plants.
She also said that if the US owned Ukrainian nuclear power plants, it would be the best protection for these facilities.