US proposes new critical minerals deal to Ukraine, says Zelenskyy

Open the newsletter to watch the White House for free

Your guide to what the American elections mean 2024 for Washington and the world

Ukrainian president Folodimir Zelinski said on Tuesday that the United States had proposed a new deal with critical minerals with Kiev, which exceeds the first framework agreement last month, as part of Donald Trump’s efforts to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Zelenskyy told the correspondents that he had not yet fully reviewed the proposal, but he said that it does not include increasing the participation of the United States in the nuclear energy sector in Ukraine, which Trump suggested last week.

The Ukrainian President described the last American proposal as a “big and comprehensive agreement.”

The Financial Times reported on Friday that the Trump administration was seeking new conditions to reach critical minerals and energy assets in Ukraine, and was considering expanding its economic demands on KyIV to include the ownership of nuclear energy facilities.

The US President has sought a metal deal to recover billions of military aid provided by KYIV since the beginning of the full invasion of Russia for Ukraine in early 2022.

Washington has now proposed the metal agreement that goes beyond the previous framework stage and goes directly to crushing the details about who owns and controls a joint investment fund.

“Previously, we had a framework agreement, followed by the development of a full agreement. Now, the American side suggested a big agreement immediately,” said Zelenskyy.

A US Treasury spokesman said: “The United States is still committed to the rapid conclusion of this vital agreement and securing a lasting peace for both Ukraine and Russia,” said a US Treasury spokesman.

The United States refused to sign the first critical metal agreement after a catastrophic collapse in the White House, which included Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Zelenskyy. Washington has briefly responded by stopping US military aid and intelligence participation with Kyiv.

The original critical metal deal, which was launched over two weeks in February, was supposed to pave the way for more discussions on Ukraine’s US security guarantees once the war with Russia ended.

The White House has argued that security guarantees are inherent in any critical minerals dealing, because the American economic investment in Ukraine will deter Russia from the attack again.

Kiev has not fully accepted the argument and demanded more assurances from the United States, which has not yet been received.

While many details of the metal deal proposed by the United States are unclear, with Ukrainian officials representing the multi -page document, they were relieved because it did not call for the delivery of nuclear power plants to the United States.

But officials are concerned that their efforts to secure a copy of the Trump administration’s original agreement may be lost now, and replace a proposal that includes larger economic demands.

One of the Ukrainian officials said that Washington had raised the nuclear issue in the discussions, but it did not include it in the new proposal.

He did not exclude her from being part of the future talks related to Trump’s payment to end the Russian aggression in Ukraine.

There was confusion last week after an invitation between Trump and Zelinski after the US president said he had a potential to control nuclear facilities in Ukraine.

Zelinski said that only the two leaders discussed the nuclear power plant in Zaborisvia, in southeastern Ukraine, which is currently under the control of the Russian forces.