Ukraine Completes Procedures for U.S. Minerals Deal Implementation

Ukraine has successfully completed the necessary procedures to implement its deal with the United States regarding the exploitation of minerals and the operation of a newly established investment fund, the country's First Deputy Prime Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, confirmed on Tuesday.

Svyrydenko, who provided limited details on the latest step, revealed that two additional documents were finalized as part of the agreement's implementation. The Deputy Prime Minister took to social media to announce the milestone: "Another key step on the path to launching the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund: Ukraine has completed all necessary procedures on schedule," she wrote.

A formal note certifying the completion of the process was handed over to the U.S. Charge d'Affaires, Julie Davis. Svyrydenko emphasized that the agreements are "equal," forward-looking, and structured to ensure investment flows directly into Ukraine's recovery and growth.

This progress comes after weeks of intense negotiations, including a tense exchange between President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. The minerals agreement, which was signed by Svyrydenko in Washington, was ratified by the Ukrainian Parliament last week.

Svyrydenko called the deal "not merely a legal construct, but the foundation of a new model of interaction with a key strategic partner." Under the terms of the agreement, the U.S. gains preferential access to new Ukrainian mineral deals and establishes the investment fund, which will play a crucial role in Ukraine's reconstruction for the first decade.

The deal also positions Ukraine to unlock additional supplies of U.S. weapons, including crucial Patriot air defense systems, which are seen as vital for protecting the country against ongoing Russian air attacks.

President Zelensky hailed the revised agreement as a significant improvement over earlier drafts, which were criticized by some in Ukraine as "colonial." The deal also acknowledges Ukraine's aspiration to join the European Union, marking a step forward in Ukraine’s integration with the West.

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