Obstacles appear to meet the signing of the rare land agreement between the US and the US, which (30/4).
The United States and Ukraine seems to have disagreed with what had been agreed in marathon negotiations overnight, with doubts about the conclusion of the agreement,
The agreement, seen by the Financial Times, said that the two countries would “seek to create the conditions necessary to increase investment in mining, energy and related technologies in Ukraine” by utilizing Kiev’s natural resources and creating a common investment fund.
However, the plan does not specify how the revenue of the Common Fund will be spent, who benefits or who controls the decisions on costs.
This development came after a significant concession by the Trump government, according to which only one future military assistance would be considered a US contribution to the agreement.
The problems in the deal arose when the plane of Ukraine Deputy Prime Minister Julia Svirindenko headed to Washington, and US Finance Minister Scott Besed told her that she should “be ready to sign all the documents or return”.
A source with knowledge of the US position said that the negotiations were not completed because Ukraine attempted to renegotiate terms that had been agreed over the weekend. According to senior US officials, he was worried that this would reduce transparency and accountability, but the deal may be signed as soon as possible if Ukraine returns to the original terms.
Validation by the Ukrainian Parliament
Ukrainians argue that the US version is inaccurate and that they cannot sign both documents today because the framework should first be ratified by the Ukrainian parliament before the agreement can be signed for the Fund. “We are ready to sign the framework agreement today,” a Ukrainian official said, but added that the chances are no better than “50-50”.
Speaking on National Television, Ukrainian Prime Minister Dennis Smuchal expressed hope that the framework agreement would be signed within the “next 24 hours”. “As soon as the final details are settled – which I hope will happen within the next 24 hours – the deal will be signed and take the first step,” he said.
Although the framework agreement does not provide explicit US security guarantees to Ukraine, it is described as “an expression of a broader, long-term strategic alignment and a tangible proof of the support of the United States of America in security, well-being, rebuilding and integration”.
Framework Agreement
According to the plan, the United States or other entities to designate will have a privileged but not exclusive access to new licenses, approvals and investment opportunities in the field of Ukraine’s natural resources.
The previous approaches to the agreement during the negotiations said it would include Ukraine’s natural gas infrastructure, which constitutes one of its most valuable assets. Natural gas infrastructure is not covered by the plan that Reuters saw today.
Sources have also said that the United States will control how to spend the revenue of the Common Fund and, therefore, they will be able to have rights and profits from Ukraine’s natural resources. However, this was absent from the draft agreement that was seen by Reuters and which was to be signed today.
