Ukrainian President Voldime Zelenkie stressed on Thursday that the mineral agreement signed with the United States was the result of negotiations, which led to a “really equal agreement.”
In his evening speech, he noted that the contract did not provide for a repayment obligation to Kyiv for previous US support.
After months of intense debate, the US and Ukraine have completed a transaction that is expected to grant Washington access to key minerals and other natural resources.
Ukrainian officials have said the agreement signed on Wednesday is incredibly advantageous for Ukraine compared to previous iterations, claiming that they have driven Kiev into a lower role and recognized the extraordinary control over Washington’s resources.
The agreement will establish the Ukrainian Reconstruction Fund with pending ratification by the Ukrainian Parliament. Officials believe it will promote ongoing US military support.
Previous versions of the agreement were approaching a final decision, but were ultimately confused at a controversial meeting in the oval office, which includes US President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and Zelenkey’s President.
Ukraine’s response to the contract
Kiev residents responded to the mineral trade in the U.S. ukrane on Thursday.
“Any news is difficult, whether it’s about negotiations or anything else. I believe and hope that any action will bring about a victory in our Ukraine.
Despite not knowing the details of the transaction, Natalia Vysotzka, a 74-year-old university lecturer, expressed optimism, saying, “If signed, the expert must have compared the pros and cons.
But others felt more exhausted. For 37-year-old Iryna Vasylevska, the deal served as another reminder that “our land is merely a negotiation tip for other parts of the world and we do not have our own complete protection.”
“My vision is that instead of strengthening myself, I keep giving it all,” she added. “It is frightening about the fact that human resources during the war are considered meat, and I am sure there are other possible consensus.
The agreement was reached when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described it as a “very important” week of Washington’s initiative aimed at resolving the conflict.
Ukraine sees the arrangement as a means of ensuring its most important and influential allies are involved, and has not withdrawn any important military aid in the ongoing struggle against Russian full-scale aggression over the past three years.
Additional sources •AP
