**Ukraine and US Sign Long-Awaited Minerals Agreement**
In a significant development, Ukraine and the United States have signed a long-awaited minerals agreement on April 30. The deal establishes a joint investment fund in Ukraine, which will be jointly managed by Kyiv and Washington.
The signing of the agreement was announced by First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who traveled to Washington to sign the document along with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Svyrydenko expressed gratitude to everyone involved in making the agreement a success, saying it will ensure success for both Ukraine and the United States.
**A Sign of Lasting Support**
U.S. officials framed the agreement as a sign of Washington’s lasting support for Ukraine. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the deal signals clearly to Russia that the Trump Administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term.
**Restrictions on Russian Interests**
The deal also includes provisions that prevent any “state or person who financed or supplied the Russian war machine” from profiting from Ukraine’s reconstruction. This is seen as a significant restriction on Russian interests in Ukraine.
**Key Provisions of the Agreement**
Some key provisions of the agreement include:
* The establishment of a joint investment fund, which will be managed equally by Kyiv and Washington.
* The exclusion of revenues from projects already launched or budgeted revenues from the fund.
* The exemption of the fund’s income and contributions from taxation in Ukraine or the U.S.
* The provision of support for Ukraine’s security, prosperity, reconstruction, and integration into global economic frameworks.
**No Security Guarantees**
However, the agreement does not provide any concrete security guarantees to Ukraine. Instead, it affirms a “long-term strategic alignment” between the two nations and pledges U.S. support for Ukraine’s security, prosperity, and integration into global economic frameworks.
**No Mention of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant**
The deal also includes no mention of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), which has been a point of contention in previous negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
**Ratification by Verkhovna Rada**
Once signed, the framework agreement will be submitted to the Verkhovna Rada for ratification. The deal had faced a last-minute setback on April 30 due to disagreements over final terms.
Overall, the signing of this minerals agreement is seen as a significant step towards strengthening ties between Ukraine and the United States, and providing much-needed support for Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts.
