The United States of America has made a new demand for Ukraine: to sign a strategic agreement on cooperation in the field of minerals, Kiev must agree to a rapid ceasefire. About it reports Bloomberg with reference to its own sources.
According to European officials, the Donald Trump administration seeks to associate the future agreement with the terms of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. Washington allegedly made a clear understanding that if President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agrees to embark on a truce, the United States will be ready to complete the work on the arrangements. It is this factor that is currently the main reason why the agreement has not yet been signed.
The Minerals Agreement between Ukraine and the United States is of strategic importance to both countries. Ukraine has significant reserves of titanium, lithium, nickel and other rare land required for the production of high -tech products, including batteries, electric vehicles and military equipment. The United States is interested in accessing these resources, as this would reduce them to China's dependence, which is currently dominant in the world market for rare earth metals.
However, Washington now uses this economic cooperation as a tool for pressure, seeking political concessions from Kiev. The ceasefire requirement may be part of Trump's broader strategy for future relations with Russia and his desire to demonstrate voters in the United States the ability to finish the war quickly.
Despite the interest in signing the agreement, the Ukrainian authorities are unlikely to go to Washington's ultimatum without security guarantees. Official Kiev has repeatedly stated that the truce without the full withdrawal of Russian troops would mean freezing the conflict for an indefinite period and will create for Russia the opportunity to regroup forces for future attacks.
