Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister on US agreement on critical minerals: We expect it to be signed

According to Stefanishyna, Ukraine is carefully monitoring developments in the United States.

"We are closely following the developments on the US side, but I am sure that the European Union, while … hesitant on many issues, will be strong enough to help Ukraine prevail," the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine said.

Stefanishyna also emphasized that Ukraine is not in the negotiation process regarding the agreement while acknowledging the processes initiated by the new US administration.

The Deputy Prime Minister stated that Ukraine “has not rejected” the US-proposed agreement regarding critical minerals, which is still being discussed.

"We expect that it will be signed" Stefanishyna added.

Ukraine-US partnership agreement

As previously reported, the US presented Ukraine with a draft agreement on natural resources. It was mentioned that the agreement could be signed at the Munich Security Conference. At that time, the US Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, stated that a partnership agreement between the US and Ukraine would serve as a long-term security shield for the Ukrainian people.

However, according to RBC-Ukraine, Ukraine revised the agreement and sent it to the American side.

Later, media resources reported that the US proposed to Ukraine to transfer rights to 50% of its mineral reserves, and President Zelenskyy refused to sign the document under these terms.

Earlier, on February 15, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine continues dialogue with the US regarding the rare earth mineral agreement. The discussion process is ongoing.