Zelensky Applauds 'Fair and Balanced' US-Ukraine Minerals Agreement

During his daily address Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared the recent United States mineral agreement to be a "truly equal agreement" according to AFP reporting. From his daily speech Zelensky lauded the renegotiated agreement that had been under development since several months until it was disrupted by a conflict between himself and Donald Trump.

"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 said.

The agreement between both parties was finalized on Wednesday for developing essential mineral resources in Ukraine. The agreement witnessed significant modifications through concessions from both involved parties. Trump had previously declared that this agreement served as payment for wartime assistance to Ukraine during its fight against Russia. President Zelensky refuted completely that the current agreement contained either debt provisions or payment conditions. The agreement between Ukraine and the United States does not specify any security commitments despite Ukraine making this request to the two countries when negotiating the deal. According to Washington the enhancement of Ukrainian business operations would naturally function as a Russian defensive mechanism.

Bloomberg reported that the mineral deal has been developing for an extended period offering the United States first priority investments in projects connected to Ukraine's aluminium, graphite, oil and natural gas resources. Most profits generated from these projects will be directed to Ukrainian infrastructure reconstruction focused on rebuilding what Russian missile strikes and military action have destroyed. The agreement works as a blueprint for Ukraine to reach its European Union membership goals which Kyiv has declared mandatory to achieve.