Ukraine has been collaborating with the EU in mineral development for four years; the EC responds to rumored agreement with Ukraine.

The European Commission has denied claims regarding a mineral agreement that was allegedly offered to Ukraine as an alternative to a similar agreement with the US, emphasizing that such cooperation has been ongoing for several years.

Thomas Rainier, an EC spokesman, explained that since 2021, the EU has had an official partnership with Ukraine in critical raw materials, formalized by a memorandum of understanding. “It involves creating synergies between supply chains on both sides and, of course, providing advantages for our partners on the ground,” he specified.

According to Rainier, this cooperation aims not only to ensure the EU’s supply chain security but also to promote local value creation and capacity development in partner countries, resulting in mutual benefits.

“This is truly about cooperation with Ukraine, not some form of competition with the US,” the EC representative added.

It has been reported that the EU had offered Ukraine its own “win-win” deal on “critical materials,” as an alternative to the one proposed by the US.