US-Ukraine Talks on Resource Deal Highlight Tensions Over Military Aid Repayment

Negotiations in Washington focus on U.S. demands for control over Ukraine's mineral wealth, with no progress on Kyiv's request for security guarantees.

• The United States and Ukraine resumed technical negotiations in Washington on a contentious natural resources agreement tied to U.S. military aid repayment.
• The U.S. proposal demands Ukraine allocate half of its resource revenue to a U.S.-controlled investment fund, granting the U.S. significant oversight and veto power over third-party deals.
• Ukrainian officials describe the U.S. draft as 'maximalist,' with no inclusion of the security guarantees Kyiv has prioritized in light of ongoing conflict with Russia.
• Ukraine has allocated UAH 113 million from its state budget to support legal and consulting efforts aimed at countering aggressive terms in the proposed deal.
• The talks, characterized as antagonistic by sources, are unlikely to yield immediate breakthroughs, with further high-level discussions expected later in April during international financial meetings.

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