Ukraine’s parliament is expected to ratify a controversial minerals deal with the United States in a decisive step towards securing the latter’s long-term commitment to the war-battered country amid stalled efforts to strike a Ukraine-Russia ceasefire.The deal, signed by Kyiv and Washington on Wednesday, pushed by US President Donald Trump and after protracted negotiations, marks an inflection point of sorts in the war, granting the US priority access to Ukraine’s critical minerals as a means of deterring future Russian aggression. However, it stops short of offering specific security guarantees and questions remain over accessing minerals in areas under Russian control.
Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha said on Thursday that the deal “marks an important milestone in Ukraine–US strategic partnership aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s economy and security”.
“We’re expecting it to be discussed and ratified by Ukraine’s parliament later today,” said Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi, reporting from Kyiv. “The overall thinking is that if the US buys into Ukraine economically, they’ll buy into Ukrainian security.” Advertisement
Ukraine managed to obtain a series of last-minute concessions on the deal, which will see the establishment of a so-called Reconstruction Investment Fund, with Ukraine no longer forced to repay billions in previous US aid and retaining “full control over its subsoil, infrastructure and natural resources”, according to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
Significantly, the US Treasury statement on the deal had referred to Russia’s “full-scale invasion” of Ukraine, indicating a s …
