Secretary Rubio on minerals deal with Ukraine: I wouldn’t count it as a security guarantee
Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (flickr.com)
The United States will not see the minerals deal as a security guarantee for Ukraine. But it will give the United States an interest in protecting Ukraine, says Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to The Guardian.
He said that Ukraine needs sufficient means to deter future attacks. Rubio emphasized that Europeans must be involved in this matter.
“I think that a minerals deal is something that I think is beneficial for both countries. So I think certainly any economic development for Ukraine is positive for their own future,” Rubio said.
He added he would consider it as a guarantee of security for Ukraine.
“I wouldn’t count it (the minerals deal - ed) as a security guarantee, but certainly, if the United States has a vested economic interest that’s generating revenue for our people as well as for the people of Ukraine, we’d have a vested interest in protecting it if it were to be challenged or threatened,” he said.
Ukraine-US minerals deal
Ukraine and the United States are trying to agree on a rare earth agreement, under which the US side will have access and the ability to extract strategically important resources in Ukraine.
Ukraine, in turn, wants to receive security guarantees from the United States. The administration of US President Donald Trump does not believe that the agreement should be part of security guarantees.
Under the agreement, Ukraine and the United States will create a joint Investment Fund. Ukraine will have to contribute to it 50% of all revenues received from the future monetization of all relevant natural resource assets and related infrastructure. The United States, for its part, will make corresponding contributions.
The Fund will invest in the development, recovery, and security of Ukraine. It will be managed by the governments of both countries.
Read more about the deal in RBC-Ukraine's report.
Yesterday, March 11, the Ukrainian and US teams held talks in Saudi Arabia. Yet, no agreement was signed during the meeting. For more information on the results of the talks, follow the link.
