Ukraine and the United States said Wednesday they have signed an agreement on a joint fund that will invest in Ukraine's reconstruction, and a draft of the agreement says it will give Washington privileged access to new deals on Ukraine's natural resources.
The two countries signed the agreement in Washington after months of difficult negotiations, with uncertainty continuing until the last moment due to an unexpected problem in the final hours.
A senior Ukrainian official posted on X that she has signed an agreement to create a Ukraine-US Reconstruction Investment Fund.
“Together with the United States, we are creating the Fund that will attract global investments to our country,” wrote First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, alongside a selfie of herself in Washington, DC.
Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent released a video message announcing the signing of the minerals agreement and the establishment of the new US-Ukraine Investment Fund.
“Today’s agreement sends a clear message to the Russian leadership that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process focused on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine in the long term,” he said. “It is time for this cruel and senseless war to end.”
He added that the US International Development Finance Corporation will work closely with the Ukrainian government to set up the fund as soon as possible.