Zelensky Refused to Sign a Mining Agreement with the US
World
Volodymyr Zelensky refused to sign an agreement with the United States in Munich that would have granted the US half of Ukraine's mineral reserves. This was reported by The Washington Post journalist Josh Rogin, citing American congressmen who attended the Munich Security Conference.
"Several congressmen in Munich said that the US delegation handed Zelensky a document they wanted him to sign. This document stipulated that the US would gain ownership of 50% of all Ukraine’s future mineral reserves. Zelensky politely refused to sign it," Rogin said.
According to Reuters sources, during a meeting with a group of US senators in Munich, Zelensky expressed concern over the agreement prepared by the US.
"Zelensky felt that he was being asked to sign a document he had not had the opportunity to review," one of the sources told the agency.
The source added that Zelensky stated he would draft his own proposal based on Ukraine’s constitution. It was noted that on February 14, Kyiv representatives submitted their proposals to the US regarding a bilateral agreement on mineral resources.
On February 14, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in Munich with US Vice President J.D. Vance. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Donald Trump’s special representative Keith Kellogg also attended the meeting. "Our teams will continue working on the document," Zelensky said after the negotiations.
Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that the US wants access to Ukraine’s rare metals worth $500 billion in exchange for the aid provided to Kyiv. Presumably, this refers to titanium, uranium, and lithium. According to Trump, the US should have access to Ukraine’s natural resources regardless of whether a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine is reached.
Zelensky, in turn, stated that Ukraine is open to joint extraction of minerals with its Western partners in exchange for support.
According to Reuters sources, during a meeting with a group of US senators in Munich, Zelensky expressed concern over the agreement prepared by the US.
"Zelensky felt that he was being asked to sign a document he had not had the opportunity to review," one of the sources told the agency.
The source added that Zelensky stated he would draft his own proposal based on Ukraine’s constitution. It was noted that on February 14, Kyiv representatives submitted their proposals to the US regarding a bilateral agreement on mineral resources.
On February 14, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in Munich with US Vice President J.D. Vance. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Donald Trump’s special representative Keith Kellogg also attended the meeting. "Our teams will continue working on the document," Zelensky said after the negotiations.
Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that the US wants access to Ukraine’s rare metals worth $500 billion in exchange for the aid provided to Kyiv. Presumably, this refers to titanium, uranium, and lithium. According to Trump, the US should have access to Ukraine’s natural resources regardless of whether a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine is reached.
Zelensky, in turn, stated that Ukraine is open to joint extraction of minerals with its Western partners in exchange for support.
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