Several Ukrainian officials take polygraph test over mineral deal leak – FT
Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Several Ukrainian officials were subjected to polygraph tests. The reason was the leak of the agreement between the US and Ukraine on minerals, reports The Financial Times.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ordered the Security Service to investigate after details of a new draft agreement between the US and Ukraine on mineral resources were leaked.
The investigation was initiated after the details of the agreement were published by MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak. He noted that this was not a final document and the text was likely to be edited. That is, these were the wishes of the American side as of March 23. He added that his sources were not Ukrainian officials.
According to Zhelezniak, in the new version of the agreement, the Americans propose that the majority of the fund's management should be made up of US representatives (3 out of 5 members). The agreement allegedly applies to all of Ukraine's mineral resources, both new and already exploited. According to the MP, all new investment projects must first be proposed to the American side. At the same time, the agreement is silent on security guarantees for Ukraine.
During a briefing with journalists on March 28, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was surprised that he had not yet read the document himself, while “MPs already know everything.”
The FT's sources said that employees of several ministries have already been tested with lie detectors, but they did not specify how many people have been tested. RBC-Ukraine's sources in various government agencies also confirm the information about the polygraph.
The President's Office did not respond to the journalists' request. The SSU responded that it acts within the law, protecting Ukraine's security, and keeps some details of its activities secret.
Minerals deal
In February, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent presented a draft agreement on minerals. The United States hoped that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would sign the agreement immediately, but this did not happen.
Ukraine insists that the deal should include security guarantees from the US, but Washington is against it. The US is now proposing a new deal on Ukrainian minerals, as well as oil and gas.
Under the agreement, Ukraine and the US will create a joint investment fund. Ukraine will have to contribute 50% of all revenues received from the future monetization of natural resource assets. The United States will also make appropriate contributions.
The Ukrainian team is expected to visit the United States in the near future to discuss technical details.
Read more about the negotiations on the end of the war and the deal in RBC-Ukraine's article.
