Ukraine, US to continue negotiations on mineral deal

Negotiations between Kyiv and Washington regarding a deal on Ukraine's mineral resources will resume next week, according to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

In an interview with Bloomberg Television in Brussels on April 10, Shmyhal emphasized the importance of maintaining Ukraine's European aspirations during the ongoing talks, Caliber.Az reports.

"This is the number one, red line which we communicate to all of our partners," Shmyhal stated, referring to Ukraine's commitment to preserving its association agreement with the European Union. He clarified that any agreement on mineral resources must not interfere with Ukraine's integration into Europe.

A Ukrainian delegation, including a special technical working group, will travel to Washington "no later than tomorrow" for further discussions on a deal concerning the exploitation of Ukraine's mineral deposits and the reconstruction of its war-torn infrastructure. Kyiv aims to secure greater US investment as part of the agreement, though it has raised concerns about giving Washington extensive privileges, which could complicate Ukraine's EU membership bid.

"We will continue these consultations and we’ll look for the best solution," Shmyhal affirmed, adding that talks will take place next week. He reiterated that the deal must not undermine Ukraine's European aspirations or its association agreement with the EU.

The US, under President Donald Trump, is pressing Kyiv for an agreement to share future profits from Ukrainian minerals. This proposal, viewed by Washington as compensation for the billions of dollars in assistance provided to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion, could require Ukraine to allocate a significant portion of its mineral revenue to the US. However, Kyiv is seeking better terms and insists that past US aid should not be considered as debt.

By Vugar Khalilov