US wants to change terms of agreement on Ukrainian minerals - FT
Illustrative photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump (president.gov.ua)
The administration of US President Donald Trump wants to adjust the terms of the agreement with official Kyiv on the US side's access to Ukrainian mineral resources. Washington plans to tighten economic requirements, Financial Times reports.
Two Ukrainian officials spoke about the American side's relevant plans on the condition of anonymity.
The Trump administration is now looking for new conditions for US access to the most essential minerals and energy assets in Ukraine.
In particular, including a nuclear power plant, which is currently under the control of the Russian occupiers, in the expanded agreement.
Thus, according to the FT, Washington is expanding its economic demands to Kyiv amid insistence on a peace agreement with Russia.
USA's interest in Zaporizhzhia NPP
On March 19, the White House said that US President Donald Trump had discussed the issue of power plants and nuclear power plants in Ukraine with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The American leader noted, in particular, that the United States could help Ukraine manage them.
Later, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy confirmed that Trump had asked about the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP and possible US involvement in its restoration. Zelenskyy also said that his American counterpart asked whether the Ukrainian authorities would understand that the United States could modernize the plant.
On March 20, at a press conference, President Zelenskyy emphasized that Zaporizhzhia NPP belongs to Ukraine, and Ukraine is not going to transfer ownership of it to anyone. He also noted that the United States could invest in the restoration and modernization of the plant.
Rare earths issue
As for a possible agreement between Washington and Kyiv on US access to Ukraine's mineral resources, the parties had previously expressed readiness to sign a document, which was thwarted in late February after the Presidents' dispute in the Oval Office.
Last night, it became known that Trump, announcing the signing of an executive order to dramatically increase the production of important minerals and rare earth metals in the United States, also noted the importance of the upcoming rare earths agreement with Ukraine.
The American leader said that, as they knew, they were also signing agreements in various places to unlock rare earths, minerals, and many other things around the world, but especially in Ukraine. He added that Washington was working very well with Ukraine and Russia
Trump said that one of the things they were doing was signing an agreement with Ukraine on rare earths soon because Ukraine had tremendous value in rare earths, and they appreciated that
