NEW YORK, April 2. /TASS/. Kiev’s potential refusal to sign a new draft agreement on the extraction of Ukrainian natural resources may spark another wave of anger from the US, The Wall Street Journal writes.

According to the newspaper, if the deal is finalized eventually, Kiev will have to hope that it’s not fully implemented because otherwise, the document provides the US with almost complete control over Ukraine’s mineral resources.

The new draft deal requires that Kiev should reimburse for the aid worth over $120 bln. A special fund will make it possible for the US to oversee half of Ukraine’s oil and gas resources, all of its metals, and most of the country’s infrastructure facilities, including railways, ports, pipelines, and plants. In addition, the US would receive all royalties until Ukraine has paid at least $100 bln, along with a 4% interest rate. This would be when Ukraine would start receiving 50% of royalties.

The previous version of the deal was not signed because of a verbal spat between Zelensky and US leaders at the White House, which led to a serious deterioration of relations between Washington and Kiev. Notably, the deal was proposed by Kiev as it sought to draw new US president Donald Trump’s attention to Ukraine's riches in order to make sure that he continued to support Ukraine.

Zelensky confirmed recently that Ukraine had received the new draft agreement from the US. Kiev said it was working to define a position. Trump said after that if Zelensky backed out of the deal, he was going to have "big, big problems."