Zelensky: US Ukraine mineral agreements without security guarantees
Zelensky: US Ukraine mineral agreements without security guarantees
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky describes the proposed deal with the United States in the area of natural resources as a "framework". He would like to further discuss the relationships between the two countries in a personal conversation with President Donald Trump. A document obtained from CNN shows that the draft expressly does not contain any security guarantees for Kiev.
hopes for support from Trump
While Trump is to end the war quickly and to receive part of Washington's financial support for Kiev, Zelensky hopes that the deal in the field of natural resources can secure the future support of the US President, as well as security policy guarantees for Ukraine.
no concrete security guarantees
The final version of the document viewed by CNN only states that the United States "support the efforts of Ukraine to achieve the necessary security guarantees in order to create permanent peace" without making binding commitments. At a press conference in Kiev, Zelensky admitted that the deal does not contain "concrete steps to security guarantees", since they have to be decided together with the USA and Europe.
future conversations with Trump
The Ukrainian President emphasized that the deal could be a "great success", but pointed out that it only forms a "frame" that can be "part of future security guarantees". He would like to discuss this in more detail during his expected meeting with Trump. According to a Ukrainian official, Zelensky will be to Washington in the coming days, D.C. Travel.
The reconstruction investment fund
The complete text of the deal that CNN has received describes the plan of both countries to found a common “reconstruction investment fund”. After this deal, Ukraine will generate 50 % of all income from the future monetization of state -owned in the field of natural resources, including hydrocarbons, oil, natural gas and rare earths, in the funds.
concern of the Ukrainians
Many Ukrainians are worried about reports that Kiev Washington could give access to his natural resources, while the Trump administration remains unclear what it will offer in return. Oleksandra Zdorenko, a pensioner, told CNN that the Ukrainians were "horrified" when the United States originally proposed a share of $ 500 billion in the rare earths and other minerals in Ukraine, which Zelensky rejected as "sale" of his country.
trust in the government
"We didn't understand how you can offer us such a deal. Now it seems to me that some conditions have changed," said Zdorenko. "I completely trust our government and our president. So much has already been done for Ukraine that they are now becoming nothing harmful."
position of the Ukrainian government
At a press conference in Kiev On Wednesday, the Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal said that Zelensky "will neither sign nor at all consider any oppressive or colonial contracts that do not take into account the interests of Ukraine". He emphasized that the draft of the agreement lies the basis for the "future recovery" of Ukraine.
gratitude for US support
During the press conference,Zelensky also expressed that Ukraine would not repay money that was given to the United States about natural resources as part of the deal. "I will [not even] accept ten cents debt repayment in this deal. Otherwise it would be a precedent," he said on Wednesday.
Trump's false claims
Trump had stated at the weekend that he was trying to get the money that the Biden administration of Ukraine gave back to defend the Russian invasion. Trump mistakenly claimed that the United States had given Ukraine $ 350 billion since February 2022; According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, the actual number is around $ 120 billion.
Trump also claimed that the support of Ukraine was "in the form of a loan". "You get your money back. We did not exist in the form of anything. I want you to give us something for all the money we have provided," said Trump and found that the USA would have felt "stupid".
macrons clarification
When Trump repeated this claim during conversations with Emmanuel Macron on Monday, the French President grabbed Trump's arm to correct him. "No, to be honest, we paid. We paid 60 % of the total effort. It was like in the USA: loans, guarantees, grants," said Macron.
Zelensky's clear message
On Wednesday, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine remains "grateful" for US support, but he wanted to "very directly" ask whether the United States would stop support for Ukraine or not. If the US government does not provide any further help, Ukraine can buy "weapons directly" from the USA, and it was proposed to use frozen Russian assets-in the amount of around $ 300 billion-to finance these purchases.