The United States and Ukraine could sign a new agreement on access to Ukrainian natural resources within the next 24 hours, Reuters reported, citing a statement by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, broadcast on national television, BTA reports.
According to him, the revised agreement now constitutes a “true partnership agreement“, within the framework of which future US aid would be recognized as a contribution to a joint fund.
Reuters has obtained access to the draft text of the document. According to it, the US would receive preferential access to Ukrainian natural resources, but without automatically acquiring shares in Ukrainian minerals or gas infrastructure.
The agreement provides for the creation of a common recovery fund, which will receive 50% of the profits due to Ukraine from licenses issued by Kiev for the use of natural resources. In addition, future US military aid will be counted as a contribution to this fund.
However, the draft does not provide clarity on key issues - how exactly the funds from the fund will be spent, for whose benefit and who will have control over decisions on the allocation of resources, Reuters notes.