Kyiv and Washington Move Closer to Economic Partnership Agreement
After months of negotiations, Ukraine and the United States are making significant progress toward a major economic collaboration. Talks that had nearly reached a conclusion in February were unexpectedly derailed following a contentious White House meeting between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
On Thursday, Ukrainian Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko announced the two nations had signed a memorandum of understanding. The agreement sets the stage for an Economic Partnership Agreement and the creation of an Investment Fund dedicated to Ukraine’s reconstruction. The memorandum reaffirmed U.S. support for a “free, sovereign, and secure Ukraine.”
“The next steps include finalizing the agreement’s text, signing it, and securing ratification from both parliaments,” said Svyrydenko. She acknowledged that while much work remains, the current momentum and progress make her optimistic that the eventual agreement will bring significant benefits to both countries.
Earlier that day, during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the Oval Office, Trump hinted that a formal “minerals deal” with Ukraine could be signed as soon as Thursday, April 24.
“And I assume they’re [Ukraine] going to live up to the deal,” Trump added.
However, negotiations weren’t without tension. President Zelenskyy had previously pushed back, declining to accept terms he feared could financially burden future generations of Ukrainians. One of the sticking points was Trump’s demand for up to $500 billion in profits from Ukraine’s natural resource development, a figure that became a major obstacle in the discussions.
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