The US President Donald Trump’s administration has sent Ukraine an updated version of the mining agreement, which takes into account some of Kyiv’s comments.
According to Axios, citing five sources from Ukraine and the US, the document has become more acceptable to the Ukrainian side. One of the sources noted that the changes to the agreement are «significant improvements» and are in line with Ukrainian law.
In particular, the clause that provided for disputes to be resolved in a New York court was removed.
According to Axios, some aides to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are recommending that he sign the agreement to avoid further confrontation with Donald Trump.
Earlier, Donald Trump said that he would like to conclude a deal under which Ukraine would supply the US with rare earth minerals needed for electronics production in exchange for US aid.
However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticised Donald Trump’s proposal to provide Ukraine with military assistance in exchange for its minerals.
Subsequently, US President Donald Trump said that Ukraine had agreed to provide Washington with access to rare earth minerals worth $500 billion.
It should be noted, however, that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused to sign the agreement on granting the US access to rare earth minerals. The White House called this decision «short-sighted».
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the US might consider investing in mining on the Black Sea shelf, which is currently under Russian occupation.
However, Donald Trump later stated that he intended to renew the agreement with Ukraine on rare earth minerals.
US National Security Adviser Mike Volz called on Kyiv «to tone it down» and sign the mining agreement, which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously rejected.