The United States has sent Ukraine an updated version of the agreement on cooperation in the field of minerals. The main change is the removal of the provision for transferring control of nuclear power plants (NPPs) to the Americans. This information was reported by influential Western publications, Bloomberg and Financial Times, which have seen the document.
If previously the focus was only on rare earth metals, now the agreement covers all mineral resources of Ukraine, including oil and gas. Additionally, it is mentioned that cooperation could involve transportation and processing infrastructure: roads, railways, pipelines, ports, and factories.
Why did Trump want control over the NPPs?
The issue of transferring Ukrainian NPPs to the USA began to be actively discussed after a statement by White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt. On March 19, she announced that the then-President Donald Trump allegedly offered Volodymyr Zelensky to transfer control of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants to the Americans.
US Energy Secretary Chris Right confirmed the US’s readiness to take over the management of Ukrainian NPPs if it would help end the war. However, he emphasized that such a matter had not yet been discussed at the official level.
During a meeting with government officials, Trump acknowledged that negotiations were ongoing between the US and Ukraine regarding mineral usage. He also pointed out that Americans are interested in controlling energy facilities:
“Right now, we’re talking about territory. We’re talking about border lines, about energy, about owning power plants. Some people say that the power plant should belong to the United States… because we have experience.”
Will Zaporizhzhia NPP remain in Ukraine’s hands?
Previously, there was information in the media that the White House has expanded its economic demands on Kyiv, particularly regarding the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. It was reported that Trump could try to use ZNPP in the process of extracting rare earth minerals in Ukraine.
Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak analyzed the proposed U.S. deal and noted that it involves absolute control by the American side over the extraction of minerals. Additionally, the contract does not have a clearly defined term, and all profits from the exploitation of resources can be taken abroad. Any changes to the agreement can only be made with the consent of the U.S.
Are these conditions beneficial for Ukraine?
The updated agreement opens up opportunities for the development of Ukraine’s mining industry with the support of American investors. However, questions arise about the country’s economic sovereignty and equal partnership in such agreements.
It is evident that the issue of control over Ukraine’s natural resources remains important in relations with Washington. The U.S. relinquishing control of Ukrainian nuclear power plants reduces the risks of interference in critical infrastructure, but expanded terms of cooperation in mineral resources may lead to significant economic dependence of Ukraine on the United States.
What will be Ukraine’s further steps in this matter? Will a compromise be found that preserves national interests while attracting foreign investments? Answers to these questions will become clear in the near future.
