Ukraine’s Cabinet says ministers can sign US minerals accord
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Negotiations surrounding the deal had raised tensions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump.
PHOTO: AFP
KYIV - Ukraine’s Cabinet on Feb 27 gave its green light for the country’s foreign or economy minister to ink an accord with Washington, giving Washington access to Ukrainian natural resources in exchange for US support.
Negotiations surrounding the deal had ratcheted up tensions between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, who refused to sign
Mr Trump lashed out at Mr Zelensky in response, claiming the Ukrainian leader was an illegitimate “dictator”.
The Cabinet on Feb 27 released a statement giving authorisation for either Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko or Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to sign the agreement.
Mr Zelensky is expected in Washington on Feb 28 to oversee the signing of the accord and meet Mr Trump to discuss further US support for Ukraine, the country’s most important military and political backer.
The Ukrainian leader told reporters including AFP that the accord was an initial document that service as a framework for broader accords.
Further discussions between US and Ukrainian officials would determine the nature of security guarantees for Ukraine and the exact sums of money at stake in the accord, he said. AFP
