US clarifies natural resources deal with Ukraine separate from peace talks

The United States has clarified that the forthcoming natural resources agreement with Ukraine is not connected to efforts aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict with Russia.

The announcement was made by US Department of State Spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, who emphasized that the deal is entirely separate from the ceasefire discussions, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

"This is something that is separate. This is not a part of the ceasefire talks. It is not an element within the agreement to stop this catastrophe," Bruce told Fox News.

Bruce further stated that US President Donald Trump expects the deal to be finalized and signed by the end of next week. "He would expect that to be signed toward the end of next week," she added.

On April 17, Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko revealed that a memorandum concerning the minerals deal had been prepared, framing it as a demonstration of productive cooperation between the two nations. She noted that both sides are working towards establishing an investment fund to aid in Ukraine's reconstruction. However, Sviridenko did not elaborate on the specifics of the agreement, which will require ratification by both the US and Ukrainian parliaments once finalized.

The deal was initially set to be signed on February 28, but discussions were paused following a disagreement between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Trump during a White House meeting. On March 27, Ukraine received a revised draft from Washington that contained significant changes. The updated version demands that Kyiv repay over $120 billion in aid, and it stipulates that the US will oversee the investment fund dedicated to Ukraine's rebuilding, which would be funded by Ukraine's revenue from licensing fees and extraction leases.

Despite the revised terms, Ukrainian officials have continued to negotiate their position on the deal, with President Zelenskyy expressing dissatisfaction over the changes, particularly criticizing Washington for altering the terms that had previously been agreed upon. The final agreement, once reached, could have significant implications for Ukraine's economic recovery and its future relations with the US.

By Vafa Guliyeva