The article discusses the concerns of Ukrainian entrepreneur Kostyuk regarding a minerals deal between Ukraine and the United States. The deal, which was initially proposed by former US President Donald Trump, aims to promote American investment in Ukraine’s mining sector. However, Kostyuk is worried that the deal may harm Ukraine’s relationship with the European Union and compromise its EU membership.
Kostyuk expresses concerns that the deal could lead to Ukrainian minerals being banned from sale to EU countries, jeopardizing Ukraine’s EU membership and undermining a resources agreement signed with Brussels in 2021. He also questions whether Washington can dictate trade rules to other countries.
The article quotes Kostyuk as saying, “Will the Americans say to Australians that they can’t sell Ukrainian graphite to Europe? It sounds crazy.”
Kostyuk suggests that the best deal would encourage American companies to invest in Ukrainian enterprises and that foreign investors could purchase mining licenses, injecting money into the state budget. However, he is concerned that the US may not actively invest in the sector but rather extract resources and sell them to other countries.
The article notes that Trump initially wanted Ukraine to pay back $300 billion for US aid before earning any profits from natural resource projects, but this was reduced to $100 billion after negotiations.
Overall, the article presents a skeptical view of the minerals deal and highlights concerns about its potential impact on Ukraine’s relationship with the EU and its economy.
