US reduces Ukraine's 'bill' by two-thirds: What's changes in deal talks
Photo: The US has reduced the amount of compensation under the rare earth minerals agreement (Getty Images)
The US has apparently softened its demands toward Ukraine. The matter concerns the payback of aid during negotiations over an economic agreement between the two countries, Bloomberg reports.
"Following a round of negotiations in Washington last week, President Donald Trump's administration has reduced its estimate for the assistance the US provided to Kyiv since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion from $300 billion to about $100 billion," journalists wrote, citing sources.
This brings the figure closer to Ukraine's own estimate of over $90 billion. The Ukrainian government declined to comment until a deal is signed.
Negotiations between technical groups on Friday and Saturday were constructive, said one of the sources in a comment to the media resource.
"But the US still approached the deal as an opportunity to recoup costs in Ukraine through profits from the fund, whose size the latest draft still doesn't specify. The Trump administration remains reluctant to pledge future investment in the fund - a key interest of Kyiv in any such deal - and put this issue on hold for discussion," Bloomberg noted.
Instead, the Trump administration continues to insist that US military spending in Ukraine should be considered Washington's contribution to the fund, said officials close to the discussions, speaking on condition of anonymity as the talks remain private.
According to the sources, Ukrainian negotiators barely managed to dissuade their American counterparts from this approach, which underpinned several of Washington's most draconian demands.
"The Trump administration is pressing Kyiv for a deal to share profits from future Ukrainian investment projects, including in minerals and infrastructure. Washington sees it as compensation for the tens of billions of dollars in weapons and other assistance given to the nation under the previous president, Joe Biden," the article specifies.
According to the authors, the partnership agreement would grant the US the right of first claim on profits transferred to a special reconstruction investment fund, which would be controlled by Washington.
"Kyiv is seeking better terms and refusing to recognize past US aid as debt," Bloomberg concluded.
US-Ukraine deal
The United States proposed that Ukraine establish a special $500 billion fund, linked in particular to the development of rare earth minerals.
As part of the agreement, Washington insisted on gaining economic and management levers of influence, and revenues from resource sales were to be directed toward compensating previously provided aid.
At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that the total amount of American support stands at $100 billion, and these funds cannot be regarded as debt owed by Kyiv.
