Ukraine signed an agreement that granted the control of the United States on a part of his future income from natural resources, an expected agreement that kyiv expects to clear the way to continue the support of the United States and a direction of high fire.
The announcement on Wednesday night that the agreement had been signed took place after months of tense negotiations, including an explosive confrontation of the Oval office, while the Trump administration tries to negotiate the end of the three -year war of Ukraine.
The agreement, which implies creating a joint investment fund between the countries, intends to give President Trump a personal participation in the country’s destination while addressed to his Conerns that the United States has caused kyiv’s ition. It could also clarify the way for more consistent conversations about US military support for Ukraine and on the terms of a possible fire with Russia.
What happened in the Oval office
Initially, the agreement was signed when President Volodymyr Zensky or Ukraine visited Washington in February. But a signature ceremony was canceled abruptly after Trump and Vance punished the Ukrainian president in the Oval office so they said he was not grateful enough for the support of us and tried to press it to make a peace agreement.
Since then, Mr. Zensky repeatedly tried to soften relationships. And both he and Mr. Trump pointed out that an agreement was still reached.
The main point of conflict in subferigent negotiations focused on whether American help granted to Ukraine since Russia launched its large -scale invasion in February 2022, would be a debt that Ukraine needs to pay.
Conflict points
The first drafts of the agreement had revolved between what the critics called a blatant extortion of Ukraine by the Trump administration and the versions that included points sought by Ukraine, as references to US support for postwar security guarantees. Without them, says Ukraine, Russia could quickly violate any high fire or restart war after regrouping and rearm. Trump has said that Ukraine should look at Europe, not to the United States, for such security guarantees.
What is in the deal?
The Mineral Agreement will create a Fund controlled by the United States that will make the income of the natural resources of Ukraine, in accordance with a copy of the agreement made on Thursday.
In the end, it seems that Ukraine managed to get something he wanted, but not everything. At the end of March, the Trump administration said that Ukraine had to pay the assistance given the duration of ingenuity with its mineral wealth, which would have damaged Ukraine for generations. The idea of dealing with that help as debt was eliminated in the final agreement. And the agreement seems to keep the open for Ukraine specifically so that anyone one is to the European Union.
But the agreement does not include any security guarantee, something Ukraine had wanted to prevent Russia from regrouping after any high fire and attacked Ukraine again.
The Parliament of Ukraine still has to ratify the agreement, which will probably happen in the next two weeks, legislators said Thorsday Morning.
Ukraine mineral resources
Ukraine controls more than 100 main deposits of critical minerals, according to a study by the kyiv Economy School, along with modest oil and natural gas reserves.
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Titanium“ Used in construction, airplanes, orthopedic implants and as an additive in paint and cosmetics, including sunscreen, among many other things. Titanium mines in the center of Ukraine represent approximately 6 percent of global production, according to Ukrainian media.
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Uranium ISED in nuclear centrals and nuclear weapons. Ukraine has the largest reserves in Europe.
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Natural oil and gas The fields dot several regions of Ukraine, and surveys carried out before the war found natural gas reserves on the high seas.
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LithiumA crucial element in batteries, including those of electric vehicles and other industrial products, including some medications. Ukraine has a third of the total reserves of Europe, although some sites are in areas answered by the war. Before the war with Russia, Ukrainian officials suggested Elon Musk that he invested in Ukrainian lithium mines.
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Forest landsA group of more than a box metals, much less abundant than titanium or lithium, which are used in many high -tech sectors, including green, electronic and aerospace energy. Ukraine has substantial reserves that have not mostly exploited, and it is not clear how expensive they would be to extract.
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ManganeseUsed for steel casting.
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Zirconium“ Used in the ceramic industry, nuclear fuel rods and artificial diamonds.
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GraphiteUsed in steel manufacturing and electric motors. Ukraine is one of the main producers in the world.
What Ukraine wants
All the time, Ukraine intends to obtain a seat at the Moscow negotiating table and insurance safeguards against future Russian aggression.
Mr. Zensky has long made clear that the agreement on natural resources It is not an end in itself. He is looking for continuous American support.
Alan Rappeport and Peter Baker Contributed reports.
