Why Ukraine’s Parliament wants to ratify minerals deal before May 9
Photo: Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Korniienko (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada (Parliament - ed.) wants to ratify the minerals deal with the United States by May 9, as this is a symbolic date for Russian President Vladimir Putin. The move is intended to send a strong signal, together with the US, that Ukraine is now more firmly within the security framework than before, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Korniienko stated.
"We are working to make it happen this week (referring to the ratification by the Verkhovna Rada of the minerals deal – ed.). We cannot disclose the time, place, and date of the session. But believe me, as soon as there is a technical possibility after the committee meeting, most likely today, to review the decision and gather the hall, it will happen immediately," Korniienko said.
He noted that everyone understands May 9 is a sacred date for Putin.
"It is important for Putin, and unfortunately, there are efforts to gather some number of world leaders and pretend that Russia is once again acceptable. And I think we must have time to send our signal together with our partners, the United States and its President Trump, that Ukraine is now a bit more within the security framework than before. It was already within the security framework, but such an agreement gives the opportunity to talk here and now about increased security and, of course, the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine as well," Korniienko added.
He also explained whether the agreement comes into force immediately after ratification by the Verkhovna Rada.
"Ratification concerns the document signed by the government. Everyone has seen it. It is attached to the draft law No. 0309 submitted to the Verkhovna Rada on the ratification of this agreement. Additional documents are not additional documents. These are other documents, and they have a different status," the Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada explained.
According to him, these are agreements at the level of implementation and the relevant executive bodies - the DFC in the United States and the State Agency for Public-Private Partnership in Ukraine, among others.
"And they do not require ratification. This is purely governmental activity. And I think everything will be absolutely clear and transparently presented to the public by the government," Korniienko added.
Ukraine–US minerals deal
On May 1, Ukraine and the United States signed a strategic agreement to establish a Reconstruction Investment Fund and to cooperate in the field of critical minerals. The document covers 57 types of minerals.
Already on May 2, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a draft law necessary to launch the joint investment fund with the United States, according to Taras Melnychuk, the government's representative in the Verkhovna Rada. The ratification bill is expected to be adopted by Parliament soon. According to RBC-Ukraine sources, this will take place on May 8.
Read more about what Ukraine promised the US in the minerals deal and how the Reconstruction Fund will operate in the material by RBC-Ukraine.
