More than a month ago, Ukraine concluded a historic agreement on minerals with the United States of America. Ukraine has now taken the first steps to allow private investors to develop a large state-owned lithium deposit. About this informs The New York Times.
This project will be the first to receive permission under the agreement. The Ukrainian government has agreed to start developing recommendations for opening tenders for companies to develop the Dobra lithium deposit in central Ukraine.
“This is one of Ukraine’s largest deposits of lithium, a mineral critical to the production of electric batteries. Among the likely contenders is a consortium of investors that includes TechMet, an energy investment company partially owned by the US government, and Ronald S. Lauder, a billionaire friend of President Trump. The group has long expressed interest in the Dobra lithium deposit, calling on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to open it in late 2023 bidding” – says the message.
According to the text of the broader agreement between the US and Ukraine, half of the revenues that the Ukrainian government will receive from mineral extraction will be directed to the Ukrainian-American Investment Fund. Then these funds are reinvested in the economy of Ukraine. At the same time, Washington also counts on a certain share of these revenues, the journalists emphasize. Donald Trump described this agreement as “retribution for past assistance” by the United States.
Preparation of recommendations for resource extraction will take several weeks. However, the Government of Ukraine may decide not to open a tender. At the same time, the new decision of the Ukrainian government demonstrates Ukraine’s desire to show Trump that the agreement is moving forward. This comes amid growing fears that the White House may distance itself from the war in Ukraine due to failed ceasefire talks with Russia.
