Washington: Ukraine and the United States signed a memorandum of intent aimed at advancing a long-delayed agreement that would grant U.S. access to Ukraine’s critical natural resources and strategic minerals.
Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, announced the development on social media ,on Thursday, describing it as a step toward a broader Economic Partnership Agreement and the creation of an Investment Fund focused on Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Talks around the resource deal had stalled earlier this year due to tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump has pushed for the U.S. to receive royalties from Ukraine’s mineral extraction as a form of repayment for military and financial support previously provided by the Biden administration.
While the specifics of the memorandum remain undisclosed, Svyrydenko emphasized that negotiations are ongoing and expressed optimism about the fund’s potential to draw international investment, support infrastructure modernization, and create new economic opportunities.
American officials argue that expanding U.S. business interests in Ukraine could strengthen the country's resilience and serve as a deterrent to future Russian aggression, especially if a ceasefire is eventually reached. Meanwhile, Kyiv continues to insist that any such arrangement must include solid military and security assurances.
