Zelenskyy hails Ukraine-US investment deal as ‘truly equal’

US-Ukraine deal signals ‘strong alignment,’ minerals expert tells DW

DW spoke with Gracelin Baskaran, director of the Project on Critical Minerals Security at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, about the recently signed minerals deal between Ukraine and the US.

Baskaran said the deal that has been signed, in part, is better than previous versions, largely because it doesn’t call for Ukraine to pay back military aid provided by the US, but also because Ukraine maintains full authority over its natural resources.

“Ukraine is really getting a deal that puts them on a good long-term development trajectory,” she told DW.

While the deal doesn’t grant security guarantees, “there is a strong explicit alignment between US and Ukraine on national and economic security.”

Mines can take up to 18 years and $500 million to $1 billion to come online.

“That’s about 4 1/2 presidential administrations in the United States,” she pointed out.

Some mines will need longer due to necessary repairs and some reserves lying under Russian-occupied land, meaning that “Peace will ultimately be important because investors have to feel confident in the longevity and the stability of that investment.”

Baskaran also highlighted the fact that the deal excludes from its benefits anyway who funds Russia, saying it “takes a pretty strong position in terms of bilateral cooperation.”