U.S. Has Prepared New Version of Minerals Agreement for Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on March 25 that Ukraine and the United States are developing a comprehensive agreement, which will be submitted to the Ukrainian parliament for ratification upon completion, Orda reports.

Zelenskyy described it as "a significant, comprehensive agreement reflecting the American side's vision," marking progress from previous framework agreements to a more detailed document. He noted that the specifics of the new U.S. proposal are not yet known to him but clarified that "the issue of nuclear power plants is not included."​

Regarding the recent agreements to ensure safe navigation and cease the use of force in the Black Sea, Zelenskyy expressed skepticism about Russia's adherence. He emphasized that if Russia violates these commitments, he will directly address U.S. President Donald Trump, stating:​

If the Russians violate these obligations, I will have a direct question for President Trump. I am very grateful; you really tried, everything is correct. You agreed as best you could. But if they violate — here is the evidence — we ask for pressure, sanctions, weapons, and so on.

This statement underscores Ukraine's expectation of U.S. support in response to potential Russian breaches of the agreement. ​

Additionally, Ukraine has provided the U.S. with a list of energy infrastructure facilities it believes should be protected under the initiative to refrain from strikes on such targets. The Kremlin has also published a list of Russian and Ukrainian facilities subject to a temporary moratorium on attacks, including:

• Oil refining enterprises
• Oil and gas pipelines and storage facilities, including pumping stations
• Electricity generation and transmission infrastructure, including power plants, substations, transformers, and distribution units
• Nuclear power plants
• Hydroelectric dam facilities

According to Russian sources, this temporary moratorium is effective for 30 days, starting from March 18, 2025. ​

Zelenskyy highlighted the importance of Russia's actions in the coming days, stating that their behavior will indicate their commitment to the agreements. He warned that renewed air raid alerts, military activities in the Black Sea, or manipulative threats from Russia would necessitate new measures specifically targeting Moscow. ​

These developments follow negotiations in Riyadh, where the U.S. mediated talks between Ukraine and Russia, resulting in agreements to ensure maritime safety and halt attacks on energy infrastructure.

Original Author: Oksana Matvienko