25 February 2025
European Commissioner for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy Stéphane Séjourné has stated that he proposed a mutually beneficial agreement on Ukraine’s critical minerals to Ukrainian officials during his visit to the city of Kyiv with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Source: French news agency AFP with reference to Séjourné’s statement on 24 February, as reported by European Pravda
Details: Ukraine’s wealth of natural resources, including manganese, titanium, graphite and lithium, has become the subject of tense talks between Kyiv and Washington. US President Donald Trump insists that the United States deserves to “get its money back” for assisting in Ukraine’s defence against the Russian invasion.
Séjourné stated that he had proposed an alternative potential agreement to Ukrainian officials during his visit to Kyiv.
“Twenty-one out of the thirty critical materials that Europe needs can be supplied by Ukraine as part of a win-win partnership,” he said after the meeting, which took place on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“The added value that Europe offers is that we will never ask for an agreement that is not mutually beneficial,” he added.
Background:
- On 24 February, US President Donald Trump stated that he was ready to meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House “this week or next week” to sign an agreement on the use of mineral resources.
- Earlier in the day, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna reported that Ukrainian and US negotiators were in the final stages of talks on the mineral resources agreement.
- During a press conference on 23 February, Zelenskyy stated that the agreement with the United States on the use of Ukrainian natural resources must include clear security guarantees from the US.
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https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/02/25/7499985
Ukraine should forgo doing any deals with the gangster in the White House. He cannot be trusted. Europe would be a far better trade partner for Ukraine.
It’s time to uncouple from the American military umbilical cord. The sooner Europe sees the long-term benefits of more autonomy, the better it is for the whole continent.
It’s definitely a win win for the EU and Ukraine. Transport costs will be minimal, and there will be no extortion involved.
Yes … and the last part you mentioned is the one I’m worried the most.
Yeah. There was an article about Trump’s Afghan deal, which was a complete disaster. We only ever hear about the withdrawal, not the events leading up to it. I’ll see if I can find it.
I’m aware of the orange deal in Afghanistan.
Both presidents fucked up.
The FT says apparently a deal has been done. It’s very tricky to upload FT articles, but here is a link :
https://www.ft.com/content/1890d104-1395-4393-a71d-d299aed448e6
Thanks.
Yes, FT has a hard paywall.
It’s quoted elsewhere. For example:
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/02/25/ukraine-agrees-to-minerals-deal-with-u-s-after-trump-administration-drops-toughest-demands-ft