Zelensky refuses to sign mineral rights agreement with the US

^{Photo: AFP}
Volodymyr Zelensky refused to sign an agreement with the United States in Munich that would have transferred half of all mineral resources in Ukraine to the United States. This was reported by The Washington Post journalist Josh Rogin, referring to American congressmen who attended the Munich Security Conference.

“According to several congressmen in Munich, the US delegation handed Zelensky a document that he wanted him to sign. This document provides that the United States will own 50 percent of all future mineral resources in Ukraine. Zelensky politely refused to sign it,” Rogin said.

Reuters sources reported that Zelensky expressed concern about the agreement being prepared by the United States during a meeting with a group of American senators in Munich. “[Zelensky] felt that he was being unreasonably asked to sign a document that he had no opportunity to familiarize himself with,” one of the agency’s interlocutors said.

According to the source, Zelensky said that Ukraine would prepare its own proposal based on the country’s constitution. It is noted that Kiev representatives submitted their proposals for a bilateral agreement on minerals to the United States on February 14.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with US Vice President Jay Dee Vance in Munich on February 14. It was also attended by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s special representative Keith Kellogg. “Our teams will continue to work on the document,” Zelensky said after the talks.

Donald Trump has repeatedly said that he wants to acquire Ukraine’s precious metals worth $500 billion in exchange for American aid to Kiev. Apparently, we are talking about titanium, uranium and lithium. Trump stressed that the United States should have access to Ukraine's natural resources, regardless of the successful conclusion of a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Zelensky said that Ukraine is open to joint mining with its Western partners in exchange for assistance. Follow “Zamin” news on “Telegram”