US and Ukraine face last-minute problems before signing minerals deal, FT

One of the Ukrainian officials who participated in the negotiations expressed disappointment with the US actions.

Ukraine and the United States have run into problems in the final stages of negotiations on a minerals deal , the Financial Times reports , citing sources.

It is noted that the American side fears that this “will lead to a decrease in transparency and accountability,” but the agreement could still be signed as early as Wednesday if “Ukraine returns to the original conditions.”

According to one of the newspaper’s interlocutors, problems arose when, during the visit of the head of the Ministry of Economy Sviridenko to the United States, the team of her American colleague Scott Bessent stated that the minister should either be ready to sign all the agreements, “or return home.”

According to Ukrainian officials, the United States wants Ukraine to sign both the framework agreement and the detailed fund agreement at once, thus completing the deal. Kyiv, for its part, insists it cannot sign both documents on Wednesday because the fund agreement must be ratified by the Verkhovna Rada.

A source familiar with the US position said the talks were not completed as the Ukrainian side attempted to renegotiate the terms agreed over the weekend.

One of the Ukrainian negotiators expressed disappointment with the US position: