Fossil negotiations between the United States and Ukraine took place in an “antagonistic” atmosphere: Reuters
Ukrainian and American officials held mineral talks on the evening of April 11, discussing the possibility of US access to Ukrainian natural resources. The meeting took place in an “antagonistic” atmosphere, and it was not possible to achieve significant progress, informs Reuters.
“The tension was caused by a new, more expansive project of the agreement, presented by the administration of Donald Trump. The document provides for the granting of privileged access to Ukrainian deposits to the United States and obliges Kyiv to transfer revenues from mining to a joint investment fund.” – the message says.
The proposal does not include provisions on security guarantees for Ukraine, which are key for President Volodymyr Zelensky amid the ongoing war. Among the points that have caused the most controversy is the demand to hand over the Gazprom gas pipeline passing through the territory of Ukraine to the control of the American company. A representative of the US Ministry of Finance confirmed the fact of the negotiations, calling them “technical”.
The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine concluded an agreement with the law firm “Hogan Lovells US” (Washington) to represent Ukrainian interests in negotiations with the United States regarding the agreement on minerals. About this it is said in the FARA register, where on April 9 a record appeared about the registration of this firm in the interests of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko are expected to travel to Washington in April to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The Trump administration sees the deal as part of a larger plan to end the war and return previously provided military aid.
