Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ratifies Critical Minerals Agreement

The ratification was supported by 338 members of parliament, according to a livestream from the session hall by MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak. The explanatory note to the bill (No. 0309) states that the ratification will create a legal basis for implementing the agreement between the governments of Ukraine and the United States on establishing a U.S.-Ukraine Recovery Investment Fund, UNIAN.net reports. First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko, during her speech, emphasized that the agreement respects Ukraine’s constitutional principles. “Ownership and control over subsoil resources remain with Ukraine. All resources on our land and in our territorial waters belong to Ukraine. National ownership is protected. Investment projects are submitted by Ukraine — this allows us to pursue our economic priorities. The agreement also takes into account Ukraine’s course toward EU membership and the relevant commitments,” she said.