Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed a new minerals agreement with the United States, calling it a “truly equal” partnership that offers shared benefits to both sides.
His comments came just hours after Russian missile strikes killed two people and wounded 15 others in response to the deal signed on Wednesday, which aims to jointly develop Ukraine’s critical mineral resources.
The agreement, which has taken months to negotiate, would see the United States and Kyiv jointly develop and invest in Ukraine’s critical mineral resources.
Ukraine said the new agreement is not linked to any past “debt,” however. And US officials stressed that the accord signalled US support for Ukraine.
“This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centred on a free, sovereign and prosperous Ukraine over the long term,” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in Washington.
The agreement “changed significantly” during negotiations, Zelensky said in his daily address.
“Now it is a truly equal agreement that creates an opportunity for quite significant investment in Ukraine.”
“There is no debt in the deal, and a fund—a—recovery fund will be created that will invest in Ukraine and earn money here,” he added.
Ukraine hopes the deal will now pave the way for the United States to give security guarantees as it seeks to safeguard against future Russian attacks following Moscow’s three-year invasion.
The agreement still needs to be ratified by Ukraine’s parliament.
