The United States and Ukraine have signed an agreement on natural resources, which the US Treasury described as historic. The path to this deal was not easy, and in the process, the dialogue between Washington and Kiev cooled significantly. Moreover, the signing remained in doubt until the last hours. Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal described the final agreement as an absolutely partnership agreement. As part of the deal, an investment fund for restoration will be created with equal participation from both sides, while Ukraine retains full control over its subsoil, infrastructure and resources. The United States, in turn, will receive privileged access to new investment projects for the development of Ukraine's natural resources, including aluminum, graphite, oil and natural gas. In the process of agreeing on the text, Washington abandoned the requirement to include in the agreement Ukraine's commitment to compensate tens of billions of dollars for assistance provided since the beginning of the Russian invasion. This agreement will not prevent Ukraine from potentially joining the European Union. Observers say the deal will help Ukraine gain President Trump's support in cease-fire negotiations with Moscow. Earlier, Vladimir Putin suggested that the United States engage in the extraction of rare earth metals in Russia.
