"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,” Svyrydenko wrote on social media platform X on Thursday.
She did not disclose details of the memorandum, saying only that work on the final text of the agreement is ongoing.
“There is a lot to do, but the current pace and significant progress give reason to expect that the document will be very beneficial for both countries,” Svyrydenko said.
According to the AFP news agency, Kyiv and Washington had planned to sign the mineral resources deal weeks earlier, but it was delayed following a tense February meeting between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House.
Trump has suggested the agreement—aimed at granting US companies access to Ukraine’s rare earth metal reserves—should serve as compensation for military and financial aid provided during Joe Biden’s presidency.
US officials also believe that the presence of American companies in Ukraine could act as a deterrent to further Russian aggression in the event of a ceasefire deal.
Kyiv has emphasized that any future agreement to end the war must also include concrete security guarantees for Ukraine.
(tf/gs)
Source: PAP