U.S. Treasury Secretary Suggests Washington, Kyiv May Sign Minerals Deal Next Week

(MENAFN- UkrinForm) U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that Ukraine and the U.S. may sign an economic partnership agreement on minerals extraction next week.

Ukrinform reported this, citing Bessent's interview with Fox News on Wednesday.

When asked by a journalist about the preparation of a bilateral agreement on minerals extraction, Bessent stated that a draft of a broader economic partnership agreement had been submitted to Ukraine for review.

"We have passed along a completed document for the economic partnership (that) is currently being reviewed by Ukrainians, and we hope to go to full discussions and perhaps even get signatures next week," Bessent said.

At the same time, he declined to comment on claims regarding U.S. interest in Ukraine's energy potential.

When asked about Russia's demands to lift some sanctions in exchange for agreements on Black Sea shipping security, Bessent said that "everything is on the table."

"It will be determined by Russian leadership's next moves, whether the sanctions go up or down, and President Trump, I think, would not hesitate to raise the sanctions if it gives him a negotiating advantage," he added.

Read also: US proposes new major agreement on critical minerals – Zelensky

As Ukrinform previously reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Tuesday that the U.S. side had proposed the text of a large minerals agreement. Earlier, the parties had been considering a framework agreement.

Photo: Tom Williams / CQ Roll Call

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