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muriel_volestrangler

(103,478 posts) Fri Apr 18, 2025, 04:33 AM Friday

Ukraine says it has signed outline of minerals deal with US

Source: BBC

A memorandum of intent, signed on Thursday and published by the Ukrainian government, states that the countries intend to establish an investment fund for the reconstruction of Ukraine as part of an economic partnership agreement.

The aim is to finalise the deal by 26 April, the memo says.

The document provides no details on natural resources, but previous leaks have suggested the deal has been extended beyond minerals to control of Ukraine's energy infrastructure, as well as its oil and gas.
...
The memo said the "American people desire to invest alongside the Ukrainian people in a free, sovereign and secure Ukraine" and the US and Ukraine "desire a lasting peace in Ukraine and a durable partnership between their two peoples and governments".

Read more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20x5xn1g92o

11 replies

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Ukraine says it has signed outline of minerals deal with US (Original Post) muriel_volestrangler Friday OP

And you trust Trump? Dan Friday #1

Just going through the motions. I hope they violate or abandon any "deal" as soon as it's safe to do so. Oopsie Daisy Friday #2

This minerals deal is ridiculous. LS_Editor Friday #3

Oops. I searched for "memorandum" and found nothing before I posted my dupe OP. Emrys Friday #4

Thanks for the memorandum muriel_volestrangler Friday #6

It's a bit more positive so far than many of us had been fearing Emrys Friday #7

"A memorandum of intent"? Sounds something like a concept of a plan, to me. (n/t) thesquanderer Friday #5

A free Ukraine is the catch Historic NY Friday #8

Well , that's nice, but the last paragraph read more like corporate babble. Firestorm49 Friday #9

He will never hold up his end of the bargain. louis-t Friday #10

Who is getting these minerals? WSHazel Friday #11

Dan

(4,598 posts)

1. And you trust Trump?

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Fri Apr 18, 2025, 04:38 AM

Friday

Oopsie Daisy

(5,611 posts)

2. Just going through the motions. I hope they violate or abandon any "deal" as soon as it's safe to do so.

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Fri Apr 18, 2025, 06:29 AM

Friday

It's like an abused spouse who has NO OPTIONS other than to comply and agree to be good and do what the abuser wants... until it's safe to make a move and GTFO of a toxic relationship and dangerous situation.

LS_Editor

(920 posts)

3. This minerals deal is ridiculous.

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Fri Apr 18, 2025, 06:51 AM

Friday

Ukraine is a democracy fighting for its right to exist. We should be helping them. These idiots who think we're shipping money to them are beyond redemption. Much of that money goes to making weapons here in the United States.

We should not be shaking them down when Trump's word is worth nothing and he blames Ukraine for being invaded.

Emrys

(8,589 posts)

4. Oops. I searched for "memorandum" and found nothing before I posted my dupe OP.

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Fri Apr 18, 2025, 07:40 AM

Friday

I'll copy it here, then self-delete mine.

Ukraine, US sign 'memorandum of intent' on critical minerals deal

Source: France 24

Ukraine and the United States on Thursday signed a "memorandum of intent" to move forward with a fraught deal for US access to Kyiv's natural resources and critical minerals, Kyiv said.

"We are happy to announce the signing, with our American partners, of a Memorandum of Intent, which paves the way for an Economic Partnership Agreement and the establishment of the Investment Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine," Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on X.

According to the text of the memorandum, published by the Ukrainian government on Friday, the aim of both sides is to complete discussions on the final deal by April 26 and to sign it soon after.

The memorandum said Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal will travel to Washington at the start of next week to meet US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and work on the deal together.

Read more: https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20250417-ukraine-us-natural-resources-minerals

I haven't been able to find a text version of the memorandum yet, so here's a screencap:

Twitter translation account WarTranslated summarized it tentatively positively as:

The U.S. has released a memorandum on economic partnership with Ukraine: investments in security, recognition of Ukraine's contribution to global security after giving up nuclear weapons, and support for EU integration without barriers. A strategic partnership agreement in the mining sector is also in the works.

Many a slip possible yet, obviously.

Given Trump's widely reported impatience with the lack of progress on "negotiations" about the war, the end of this month is seen as a watershed, by when he wants to have at least something to crow about. Putin doesn't seem likely to give him much in that way.

muriel_volestrangler

(103,478 posts)

6. Thanks for the memorandum

Reply to Emrys (Reply #4)

Fri Apr 18, 2025, 07:47 AM

Friday

Yes, no details, though interesting to see obligations for EU accession mentioned there.

Emrys

(8,589 posts)

7. It's a bit more positive so far than many of us had been fearing

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Reply #6)

Fri Apr 18, 2025, 07:54 AM

Friday

There's also been word that the US had downscaled its ridiculous estimate of the value of the aid it had given Ukraine from $350 billion to $100 billion, which is a start. Accepting that it was grants, not loans, is probably a bridge too far, but small mercies and all that.

The crunch is the actual minerals deal. If it's as greedy, piratical and unrealistic as earlier drafts have suggested, it might never be ratified by the Ukrainian parliament. The Americans may be aware of that, but logic isn't their master nowadays.

I've cross-posted my original OP in GD for more visibility: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220249059