**Ukraine‘s Economy Minister to Meet with Parliament Factions Before Ratifying Minerals Deal**
As Ukraine prepares to ratify a minerals agreement with the United States, the country’s Economy Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko will meet separately with each faction of parliament. According to Serhii Sobolev, an MP from the Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party, these meetings will take place on May 6 and 7.
The minerals deal, signed by Svyrydenko alongside U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington D.C. on April 30, has been met with interest and scrutiny from Ukrainian lawmakers. The agreement establishes a joint investment fund between Kyiv and Washington, but also grants the U.S. special access to projects developing Ukraine’s natural resources.
**Transparency and Questions**
MPs will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the details of the agreement during these meetings. However, some MPs may be limited in their ability to scrutinize the deal due to the sensitive nature of certain documents.
“It’s not possible for us to read the appendices yet,” Sobolev told Suspilne. “Perhaps it’s because they contain state or commercial secrets that cannot be announced publicly.”
**Ratification Vote Scheduled**
The Verkhovna Rada has scheduled a ratification vote for May 8, just two days after Svyrydenko meets with parliament factions. The signing of the minerals deal followed months of negotiations between Ukraine and the U.S., which at times became contentious and strained their relationship.
**What’s in the Deal?**
While experts have praised the finalized agreement for avoiding elements that could be seen as exploiting Ukraine, it still does not provide concrete security guarantees from the U.S. However, the deal does prevent counting previously delivered U.S. military aid as a contribution to the joint fund, which is a positive development.
As the Ukrainian parliament prepares to ratify this significant agreement, Svyrydenko’s meetings with each faction will be crucial in addressing concerns and questions that lawmakers may have. The outcome of these talks will undoubtedly shape the future of Ukraine-U.S. relations on issues related to natural resources and investment.
