Zelensky will not sign the mineral resources deal without security guarantees for Ukraine – The Economist

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will not sign an additional agreement to the mineral resources deal unless it explicitly includes security guarantees for Ukraine.

This was reported by The Economist, citing Ukrainian officials.

The additional agreement is expected to clarify issues regarding control over the fund being created by Ukraine and the U.S., which will receive revenue from Ukrainian mineral resources.

“A government source familiar with the negotiations claims that Zelensky does not intend to sign the final agreement without clear security guarantees,” the article states.

The issue concerns the Fund Agreement mentioned in the published draft of the Mineral Resources Agreement, which has yet to be prepared. This agreement is supposed to outline specific mechanisms for implementing the mineral deal—mechanisms that are currently missing from the latest version of the agreement, which remains highly abstract.

Zelensky is scheduled to arrive in Washington on Friday, February 28, to sign the mineral resources agreement. The Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers has already approved the signing of the deal with the U.S.