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Washington – Kyiv – The United States has handed Ukraine an updated version of the agreement on mineral development, which takes into account some of Kyiv’s comments. This was reported by Axios, citing five sources in the governments of Ukraine and the United States.
What has changed in the updated document?
According to Axios, intensive negotiations on the so-called “subsoil deal” have been going on between Kyiv and Washington in recent days. As a result, the US side provided Ukraine with a revised draft that takes into account some of Kyiv’s concerns.
One of the key changes is the removal of clauses submitting the agreement to the jurisdiction of a New York court, which had previously caused concern among Ukrainian officials. “There has been a significant improvement in the latest draft, and it is in line with Ukrainian law,” one of the portal’s sources said.
Pressure on Zelenskyy and the political context
The sources also said that several advisers to President Zelenskyy recommended that he sign the updated agreement to avoid further conflict with Donald Trump. This could also help maintain US security and investment support.
“This is a negotiation, and there are always compromises in negotiations. Ukraine wants to negotiate on minerals, so we are engaged in a dialogue,” the White House official said on condition of anonymity.
What happened before?
According to media reports, Donald Trump’s administration initially demanded that Ukraine give the US 50% ownership of rare earth mineral deposits, but Zelenskyy refused to sign such a document. This provoked a sharp reaction from Trump, who even called Zelenskyy a “dictator without elections”.
However, during a meeting with Trump adviser Keith Kellogg on 20 February, Zelenskyy reiterated his readiness for a “strong and really useful agreement on investment and security for both sides”.
Signing prospects
According to experts, the updated agreement paves the way for potential US investment in the Ukrainian mining industry, particularly in the extraction of strategically important rare earth elements. At the same time, Kyiv is trying to maintain control over national resources and avoid legal traps.
A final decision on the deal is expected in the coming weeks.
