Ukraine has pushed for the European Union, EU, to be included in negotiations over its minerals deal with the United States, citing the bloc’s significant financial contributions to its state budget.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Olha Stefanishyna, stressed that future discussions must involve the EU and other key partners with whom Ukraine has legal commitments under its EU accession talks.

“The number of participants in the negotiations will expand, and this is the key task for the Ukrainian delegation,” Stefanishyna stated.

READ ALSO: U.S., Ukraine officials meet to end war

The minerals agreement, covering Ukraine’s natural resources, including rare earth metals, outlines joint ownership and decision-making. However, it is not classified as an international treaty, unlike the recovery fund agreement. Kyiv’s deal with Washington does not impose immediate legal or financial obligations but allows the U.S. to protect revenue-generating facilities linked to the fund.

Ukraine’s cabinet had approved an investment fund agreement with the U.S. on February 26, allocating 50 percent of future natural resource revenues to the fund, while the U.S. would contribute financial support for Ukraine’s reconstruction.

However, a February 28 meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington ended abruptly. A disagreement in the Oval Office led to Trump’s senior staff escorting the Ukrainian delegation out of the White House and cancelling a scheduled joint press conference. Despite the deal’s approval by Kyiv, Trump ultimately decided against signing it.

NAN