**Ukraine and US Negotiate Crucial Minerals Agreement**
President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that negotiations between Ukraine and the United States on a key minerals agreement are progressing positively. The news comes after a round of technical consultations held in Washington on April 11.
Speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Odesa, Zelensky noted that working-level meetings would continue through the end of the week. “When the teams are ready, they will present what they have worked out,” he said. “So far, both sides have ended the meetings in a positive mood.”
The talks come after months of stalled negotiations over a deal that would give the US access to Ukraine’s vast reserves of critical raw materials. The current US proposal is reportedly more expansive than earlier versions and would grant extensive control to a joint investment fund managed by Washington.
**Critics Warn of Sovereignty Risks**
However, critics say this “maximalist” approach risks undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty over its mineral wealth. It could also complicate the country’s 2021 raw materials partnership with the EU, potentially threatening its EU membership path.
The original framework agreement was expected to be signed during Zelensky’s visit to Washington on February 28, but the plan fell apart following a heated Oval Office dispute with US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Ukraine has since hired American-British law firm Hogan Lovells to advise on the negotiations.
**Ukraine Submits Revised Proposals**
Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna confirmed on April 14 that Ukraine had submitted a revised set of proposals during the latest round of talks, without commenting on the US’s reaction. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha previously emphasized that any final agreement must align with Ukraine’s long-term national interests and its ambition to join the EU.
**What’s Next?**
As negotiations continue, it remains unclear what concessions Ukraine will have to make in order to reach a mutually beneficial deal. The country has insisted that the agreement must be fair and avoid jeopardizing future accession.
**Analysis**
The stakes are high for both sides. If an agreement is reached, it could pave the way for greater cooperation between Ukraine and the US on critical raw materials. However, critics warn that any agreement that undermines Ukraine’s sovereignty would have far-reaching consequences for the country’s long-term national interests and EU membership path.
Only time will tell if a mutually beneficial deal can be struck. One thing is certain: the eyes of the international community are on these negotiations, as they unfold in Washington this week.
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