Several Ukrainian officials were subjected to polygraph tests. The reason was the leak of the agreement between the US and Ukraine on minerals, reports The Financial Times.
The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, instructed the Security Service to look into the matter following the unauthorized disclosure of specifics regarding a fresh draft accord between the US and Ukraine concerning mineral resources.
The inquiry began following the disclosure of the pact’s contents by Member of Parliament Yaroslav Zhelezniak. He emphasized that this wasn’t an ultimate version and the content would probably undergo revisions. This indicated that these represented the desires of the U.S. side up until March 23rd. Additionally, he mentioned that his information did not come from Ukrainian government employees.
According to Zhelezniak, in the new version of the agreement, the Americans propose that the majority of the fund's management should be made up of US representatives (3 out of 5 members). The agreement allegedly applies to all of Ukraine's mineral resources, both new and already exploited. According to the MP, all new investment projects must first be proposed to the American side. At the same time, the agreement is silent on security guarantees for Ukraine.
At a press conference on March 28, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed surprise that he hadn’t seen the document yet, even though "the MPs are already familiar with all the details."
According to sources cited by the Financial Times, workers from multiple government departments have undergone polygraph tests, though the exact number of individuals involved was not disclosed. Sources from multiple governmental entities within Ukraine have corroborated the details regarding the lie detector test.
The Presidential Office did not reply to the media's inquiry. In response, the SSU stated that they operate within legal boundaries, safeguarding Ukraine’s safety, and maintain certain aspects of their operations confidential.
Minerals deal
In February, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled a proposed deal concerning minerals. The United States was hoping for an immediate signature from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, yet that didn’t occur.
Ukraine maintains that the agreement must encompass security assurances from the U.S., yet Washington opposes this idea. In lieu of that, the U.S. is currently suggesting a fresh arrangement centered around Ukrainian minerals along with oil and natural gas.
As part of the accord, Ukraine and the U.S. will establish a shared investment fund. Ukraine must provide half of the total income generated from the eventual commercialization of its natural resource assets. Additionally, the U.S. will offer corresponding financial support.
The U.S. is anticipated to host a delegation from Ukraine soon for talks regarding specific technical aspects.
Learn more about the discussions regarding the conclusion of the conflict and the agreement in RBC-Ukraine's article.