Ukrainian officials say public debate could harm sensitive talks on U.S. proposal linking natural resources to post-war peace.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Ukraine is working internally to finalize its position on a new draft minerals deal proposed by the United States but has urged lawmakers and the public to avoid open discussion of its contents, according to comments made Friday by Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
Speaking during a parliamentary session, Svyrydenko warned that public debate over the draft agreement could undermine ongoing negotiations. Her remarks were streamed on social media by Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksii Honcharenko.
“This kind of discussion is harmful and makes it harder for us to have constructive dialogue with our American partners,” Svyrydenko said, emphasizing the importance of consensus before Kyiv responds formally.
The latest U.S. proposal, described as more expansive than earlier drafts, reportedly includes conditions requiring Ukraine to contribute all revenues from the use of its natural resources—whether managed by state or private entities—to a joint investment fund. Three individuals familiar with the talks and a summary of the document, obtained by Reuters, said the draft omits security guarantees for Ukraine.
The revised offer reportedly reflects the Trump administration’s broader goals of establishing financial involvement in Ukraine’s post-war future rather than committing to further military or security guarantees. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is leading negotiations for Washington, according to one of the sources, though he has not commented publicly.
The terms now under review go further than those discussed in advance of last month’s Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy—a meeting that drew sharp scrutiny for its closed-door format and terse post-meeting remarks.
While some of Trump’s previous statements mentioned U.S. involvement in Ukraine’s nuclear energy sector, the current draft does not refer to American ownership or control of nuclear power plants, according to the summary.
President Trump has defended the minerals proposal as part of a strategy to recover U.S. taxpayer contributions and to lay the groundwork for a stable peace. “We’ve given tens of billions of dollars to Ukraine,” Trump said earlier this year. “It’s time we make an investment that gives us a stake in their future.”
National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt declined to confirm specific provisions in the draft but reiterated the administration’s position. “The mineral deal offers Ukraine the opportunity to form an enduring economic relationship with the United States that is the basis for long term security and peace,” he said.
Ukrainian officials have not indicated when a final decision or public statement on the proposal will be made. Negotiations remain active, with both governments weighing the political, economic, and strategic implications of tying U.S.-Ukraine cooperation to the country’s natural resource revenues.
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