U.S.–Ukraine Mineral Agreement Will Not Account for Past Aid, Says Ukrainian PM Shmyhal

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that the upcoming mineral resources agreement between Ukraine and the United States will not include any U.S. assistance previously provided to Kyiv.

The Gaze reports on this with reference to Denys Shmyhal’s post on social media.

In a statement Shmyhal emphasized that this agreement was a key focus during his recent meeting in Washington with the U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

According to Shmyhal, legal teams from both sides are currently drafting the text of the agreement, with "significant progress" already achieved. He stressed that Ukraine had firmly outlined its "red lines," ensuring that the final document would fully comply with Ukraine's Constitution, national legislation, and its European integration commitments. Crucially, Shmyhal confirmed that the deal must be ratified by the Ukrainian Parliament.

"An essential agreement was reached: any U.S. assistance provided before the agreement is signed will not be counted under its terms," Shmyhal noted.

The deal may also provide for the creation of an Investment Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine. 

The issue gained additional urgency after the U.S. President Donald Trump, on April 25, called on Ukraine to expedite the signing of the mineral resources agreement.

Earlier, on April 17, Ukraine and the United States signed a memorandum of intent to finalize a formal Economic Partnership and a Reconstruction Investment Fund. According to that memorandum, the new agreements must not hinder Ukraine’s European integration trajectory.

As The Gaze reported earlier, the European Union understands that the preliminary draft of the Ukraine-US Minerals Agreement contained some provisions incompatible with EU law but believes that the Ukrainian authorities will be able to agree on a favourable version for Ukraine.