**Ukraine and US Make “Significant Progress” in Minerals Deal Talks**
In a significant development, Ukrainian and US negotiators have made substantial progress in talks on a minerals deal. The agreement, which will be concluded in the near future, is expected to provide opportunities for investment and development in both countries.
According to Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, the technical teams from both sides have worked diligently on the agreement, and the legal teams have ensured that the draft meets all necessary requirements. “We’ve made significant progress, and the legal teams have ensured the appropriate emphasis in the draft,” she said.
The negotiations between US and Ukrainian delegates took place in Washington on April 11 and 12, following consultations earlier this year. Despite initial reports of an antagonistic atmosphere, President Volodymyr Zelensky later stated that the round of discussions concluded in a positive mood.
**Key Details of the Agreement**
According to Bloomberg, the US has softened its demands on Ukraine’s minerals deal, lowering the payback it seeks for provided aid from $300 billion to $100 billion. While this sum is closer to Kyiv’s estimates of the supplied assistance, President Zelensky has stressed that Ukraine does not see the aid sent by the Biden administration as debt.
The agreement will be subject to ratification by the Ukrainian parliament and will provide opportunities for investment and development in both countries. Speaking to Bloomberg, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the negotiators are “very close” and the deal could be finalized as early as this week.
**Background on the Minerals Deal**
The original framework agreement was expected to be signed during President Zelensky’s visit to Washington on February 28, but the plan fell apart following a heated Oval Office dispute with US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Ukraine has since hired the American-British law firm Hogan Lovells to advise on the negotiations.
In conclusion, the recent progress in talks between Ukrainian and US negotiators is a positive development for both countries. The agreement has the potential to provide opportunities for investment and development, and we will continue to monitor developments as they unfold.
