The US pushes for expansive new transaction to control Ukraine’s minerals and energy

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The United States is pushing for a broad new deal to control critical minerals and energy assets of Ukraine, while offering Kyiv safety in return, in the aggressive expansion of previous requirements.

New The project of the transaction Sent to Kiev on Sunday and saw that the Financial Times goes beyond the initial joint economic agreement knocked out last month, as part of the efforts of US President Donald Trump to stop Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and pay off military assistance in billions of dollars.

High Ukrainian officials said the proposal could undermine their country’s sovereignty, income from routes abroad and deepen its dependence on Washington.

The transaction project means dramatic escalation Trump The efforts of the administration to maintain control over the profitable natural resources of Ukraine when it presses to bring the conflict to the end.

This will extend to all mineral resources, including oil and gas, and major energy assets throughout the Ukrainian territory.

Washington requires this Ukraine And the United States has set up a supervisory council to control the joint investment fund for dividing oil, gas and mineral projects between the two countries.

US appoint three of the five members of the Council, giving Washington full veto to the fund.

US Finance Minister Scott Baby said on Wednesday Fox News that he believes that the transaction could be signed immediately after next week.

But three high -ranking Ukrainian officials said FT is unlikely to happen. One said that the new US project was “unfair” and the other compared it to “robbery”.

The third official stated that a team of legal advisers had been brought to help the government to study the document if he prepared a counter -proposal.

The Ukrainians expressed frustration when Trump’s pressure increased to ensure ceasefire and lasting peace, even if the Kremlin does not show signs of stopping its invasion.

In Paris on Thursday, President of Ukrainian Volodimir Zelensky said the US “constantly” changed the terms of the agreement. But he added that Washington did not want Kiev against the deal.

The new proposal of the Trump administration will cancel the previous framework for the joint development of Ukraine’s mineral resources agreed last month by Kiev and Washington.

The transaction that created a fund to which Ukraine made 50 percent of future income from minerals was never signed after a catastrophic meeting of the oval office between Trump and Zelensky.

According to the new proposal, the projects covered by the funds will include those conducted by the Ukrainian government itself, as well as the companies approved by KYIV or state organizations.

The transaction also covers infrastructure related to the operation of natural resources such as roads, railways, pipelines, ports and processing plants.

The funds received under the last proposal will be transformed directly into foreign currency and send abroad, and Ukraine will be responsible for compensation in case of delay and dispute.

The United States will receive royalty from the fund in front of Ukraine, for a 4 % prize, and would have retained law enforcement rights to infrastructure projects, as well as to veto the interest over other resources sales.

While the transaction does not include ownership of the US nuclear energy infrastructure – a contradictory idea that swam last week – Ukrainian officials remain cautious that nuclear assets can still be on the table in future negotiations.

One official acquaintance with this issue said that the nuclear problem was raised in previous discussions, but was intentionally excluded from this iteration proposal.

The US State Department did not immediately respond to a comment request. Earlier this week, the Treasury Press Society stated an extended proposal: “The United States remains committed to the quick conclusion of this vital agreement and providing strong peace for both Ukraine and Russia.”

Additional James politics and Guy Chazana reporting