Ukraine, US Confirm Exclusion of Past Aid from Minerals Deal

Ukraine and the United States have agreed that past American aid will not be counted toward a pending minerals and natural resources deal, clarifying a key point of contention. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal emphasized that the agreement must comply with European obligations, Ukrainian law, and requires parliamentary ratification. The deal has been under negotiation for months, with prior disagreements centering on whether previous U.S. assistance—such as military and financial aid—should be repaid or factored into the terms. U.S. officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, confirmed that legal teams are working to finalize the agreement, and both sides reported progress after recent discussions. The exclusion of retroactive aid addresses demands previously made by former President Donald Trump, who had argued that Kyiv should return U.S. funds. The finalized minerals deal seeks to foster joint investment opportunities without converting earlier U.S. aid into Ukrainian debt.