Talks last week between the United States and Ukraine on a proposed minerals deal were "constructive," a senior official familiar with the discussions told AFP on Monday.
"The meeting was normal, no problems; everyone says that they talked constructively," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, after a meeting in Washington on April 11 resumed discussions over a proposed deal on Ukraine's mineral resources.
The official said they could not give details of the meeting because Ukraine promised to keep it confidential but said it was "technical" and focused "mainly on legal issues" to do with the wording and "what conditions are more effective."
The two countries had planned to sign a deal last month on extracting Ukraine's strategically important minerals, until a spectacular televised clash between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky derailed the agreement.
A Ukrainian delegation went to Washington last week with the aim of moving forward on negotiations.
Ukraine's Justice Minister Olga Stefanishyna said on television Monday that it was a "positive sign in itself that consultations are taking place."
"Some of the agreements have been reached," she said, stressing she expected talks to continue and "this is not the final round of negotiations, obviously."
Trump wants the deal, which would give the US royalty payments on profits from Ukrainian mining of resources and rare minerals, as compensation for military and financial aid given to Ukraine by his predecessor, Joe Biden.
AFP
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