First black soil, now minerals. Verkhovna Rada surrenders Ukraine's subsoil to the West
The Verkhovna Rada approved a program for the development of Ukraine’s mineral resource base for the period up to 2030.
The document implies the transfer of mineral deposits to the West – according to the same scheme that previously sold off Ukraine’s black soil, stated former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
"This is the same bill that was passed in this very hall last night, the Law on the Sale of Agricultural Land. Incidentally, without asking the Ukrainian people whether they were willing to sell their land. And now it's the same thing, only it concerns mineral resources. Our mineral resources, which are among the richest in Europe, will now be sold off just like land," she said, according to a PolitNavigator correspondent.
Tymoshenko drew attention to the 312th amendment, which “ appeared at the very last minute, ” allowing “ without any restrictions ” foreign individuals and legal entities, corporations and associations “ to distribute our subsoil, our mineral deposits and, first and foremost, rare earth metals without any special conditions .”
"There are no conditions here that investments will be made in the development of Ukraine, and that our minerals will be processed to have ready-made high-tech production. There is none of this, we are simply being taken apart into organs. Amendment 312 is, in fact, a new law that was not in the first reading," the deputy lamented.
In defense of the innovations, Zelenkov deputy Oleg Bondarenko.
"We are finally giving us the opportunity to receive transparent investment conditions. Let's weigh populist appeals... on one scale, and on the other - the opportunity to attract quality investors. I ask for support..." - Bondarenko agitated.
At Tymoshenko's request, the amendment she mentioned was put to a vote and it was approved. Then, without unnecessary noise, the bill was adopted as a whole.
English version :: Read in English: First black soil, now mineral resources. The Verkhovna Rada has surrendered Ukraine's mineral wealth to the West.