Draft of U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund Agreement Obtained by Media
Trump Administration Demands $500 Billion Compensation from Ukraine
Draft Conditions "Effectively Make Ukraine an Economic Colony of the U.S."
U.S. to Receive Half of Ukraine's Resource Income and New Permit Values
Trump Reiterates Desire to Secure $500 Billion Worth of Resources
Donald Trump, the President of the United States, reportedly demanded that the Ukrainian government "repay $500 billion (720 trillion won) as compensation for the support received from the U.S. so far," effectively making Ukraine an economic colony of the U.S. forever, according to the British daily The Telegraph on the 17th (local time).
The newspaper reported that it obtained a draft of the 'Reconstruction Investment Fund' agreement presented by the Trump administration to the Ukrainian government last week.
The Telegraph evaluated that the conditions included in this draft "legally amount to making Ukraine an economic colony of the United States forever," and assessed that the reparations burden on Ukraine is at an unpayable level no matter what.
The newspaper pointed out that the burden imposed on Ukraine, in terms of the ratio to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is even greater than that imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles after World War I.
Dated February 7, the draft includes not only rare earth minerals but also mineral resources such as oil and gas, as well as infrastructure like ports. According to the draft agreement, the U.S. and Ukraine will establish the 'Reconstruction Investment Fund' to "prevent hostile parties from benefiting from Ukraine's reconstruction."
The Reconstruction Investment Fund will have exclusive rights to determine methods, selection criteria, and conditions for future permits and projects related to Ukraine's natural resources.
The U.S. will receive 50% of the income Ukraine earns from resource extraction and 50% of the economic value of "all new permits granted to third parties" to monetize these resources. Furthermore, the U.S. will hold a lien on these revenues, meaning it can secure business rights or resources as collateral.
Meanwhile, President Trump publicly expressed his hope on the 3rd that the U.S. government, which is providing military support to Ukraine, would receive rare earth minerals from Ukraine. He reiterated this in a Fox News interview aired on the 10th (local time). He said, "The Ukraine issue will be resolved, and I want to ensure the money the U.S. invested." Along with this, he expressed his desire to secure resources worth $500 billion, including rare minerals.
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