'It's off table' - US deal covers mineral resources across all of Ukraine
Photo: Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine Taras Kachka (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The investment fund deal between Ukraine and the US recognizes Ukraine’s territorial integrity and covers all natural resources across its territory, according to Deputy Minister of Economy Taras Kachka's statement during a national TV broadcast.
When asked whether American companies would operate in temporarily occupied areas, Kachka clarified that "this is not part of the agreement," adding that the preamble explicitly affirms Ukraine’s full sovereignty over its resources.
"There’s no distinction between occupied and unoccupied territories - the agreement applies to all mineral resources in Ukraine. This was once a point of discussion, but it’s off the table for now," he said.
The Deputy Minister of Economy noted that Ukraine’s representative in the fund will be the State Public-Private Partnership Support Agency, which operates under the Economy Ministry.
The agency has established trust through cooperation with USAID and the World Bank and supports investment preparation and project assessment.
"The agency analyzes investment projects, while the fund, which won’t extract minerals itself, will invest in businesses engaged in resource extraction. Its statutory powers make it the most appropriate body," he concluded.
About deal
The agreement, already signed by Ukraine and the US, establishes an investment fund that will receive 50% of royalties, license fees, and similar payments from natural resource projects.
Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said the document safeguards Ukraine’s ownership of its resources and benefits both countries.
She added the fund could become operational within a month and a half after ratification by Ukraine’s parliament.
According to the ministry, Ukraine will begin contributing financially to the fund no earlier than 2030.
