Last-minute dispute delays minerals deal, according to Financial Times report
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Here's the lowdown on the minerals agreement between the USA and Ukraine that nearly hit a snag on April 30. With disagreements over the final details causing a bit of turmoil, the question was if the deal would ever be signed.
First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko jetted off to Washington to ink a framework deal. Word on the street is, US officials pushed hard for Ukraine to also sign a detailled funding agreement alongside the overall package.
Reuters chimed in on the 30th, claiming that the Yanks expect Ukraine to pen two more documents in addition to the minerals deal, while the Ukraine peeps claim these texts are still under wraps.
According to the Financial Times, Bessent's team told Svyrydenko to "get ready to sign all agreements, or hit the road." An insider in the loop with US chats said the holdup was due to the Ukraine wanting to revisit previously agreed terms.
Ukrainian officials, meanwhile, said they couldn't sign both agreements because the fund agreement requires further tech work and needs to be ratified by the nation's parliament. Kyiv, however, was all set to go with the framework deal.
"We're good to sign," Bessent said during a White House cabin huddle on the 30th. "The Ukrainians decided last night to pull a fast one. They'll see the error of their ways. We're set to sign this afternoon, if they play ball."
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the framework agreement, once signed, would be tossed over to the Verkhovna Rada for ratification. After that, the detailed funding agreement between US and Ukrainian legal entities could be tied up nicely.
Speaking on telly, Shmyhal pointed out that the US side operates under a different legal framework, enabling them to check all boxes without legislative approval. He scheduled consultations with Ukrainian parliamentary leadership on the agreement's nitty-gritty for May 1. As for the framework deal, Shmyhal hoped it would be in the books within the next 24 hours.
"Once the fine print is ironed out, I reckon we'll have the green light in no time," he said.
The minerals deal's been under discussion for quite some time and became a nasty spat between President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Donald Trump. The two went at it in the White House on Feb 28, just moments before the deal was about to be inked.
- The disagreements over the minerals agreement between the USA and Ukraine earlier involved the demand by US officials for Ukraine to sign a detailed funding agreement alongside the minerals deal.
- The initial plan was for Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko to sign a framework deal in Washington, but there were additional documents expected from Ukraine, as per Reuters' report.
- Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal mentioned that the US side operates under a different legal framework, enabling them to check all boxes without legislative approval.
- Ukrainian officials stated earlier that they couldn't sign both agreements due to the fund agreement requiring further technical work and needing ratification by the nation's parliament.
