Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Wednesday, April 9th, reassured the European Union that his country’s ongoing negotiations with the United States over a minerals deal will not hinder its efforts to join the EU. The PM confirmed that Ukraine’s EU membership aspirations remain a priority, even as technical talks with the U.S. continue over a partnership agreement concerning Ukraine’s natural resources.
“It should be a partnership agreement, so on equal conditions for both sides,” Shmyhal emphasized during a visit to Brussels. The leaked draft of the agreement suggests that the U.S. would gain significant control over Ukraine’s critical minerals through a joint investment fund.
EU officials worry that promises made to the U.S. would make it impossible for Ukraine to meet all obligations required to join the bloc. Rules on competition, single market, transparency, and other areas critical for becoming part of the political community are thought to be impossible to achieve if the agreement with President Trump goes through.
However, Ukrainian Shmyhal stressed that Ukraine’s EU accession would remain its primary goal. “We really have some red lines,” he said, referencing Ukraine’s constitution and European obligations. The prime minister assured that technical teams would continue negotiations with the U.S. to ensure the agreement remains a true partnership.
Shmyhal ambitiously announced that Ukraine has fulfilled 81% of its commitments under the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, covering key areas such as customs, intellectual property rights, education, and national security. “This year, we aim to open all six clusters in the EU accession negotiations and deepen sectoral integration,” he stated, expressing confidence that Ukraine could achieve significant results “not in years, but in months.”
EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos echoed Shmyhal’s optimism, stating, “The progress is undeniable,” with the aim to open all clusters by 2025. Katarina Mathernova, the EU’s ambassador in Kyiv, even suggested that Ukraine could potentially join the EU before the end of the decade, once the war concludes.
