Hello Paula,

I want to ask about the ongoing negotiations between Ukraine and the US,

but it's about the minerals deal.

I know obviously that the commission is not involved in this process,

but we've heard,

thanks to our colleagues in Bloomberg

new details about this agreement,

you know,

draconian

provisions,

to favour the US and to exert American control over Ukraine's national resources.

My question is,

are you conducting any sort of analysis on how

this deal or this potential deal could affect Ukraine's ambition

to join the European Union and also the compliance with

the association association agreement that is now in place.

Thank you.

well,

on this,

let me just come in as it concerns could concern several colleagues on our side,

and we had this question at some point before,

so we hear about discussions right on the possible minerals deal.

There's no talk about a concrete deal

having been made

and therefore anything we could say about

its possible implications is pure speculation,

right,

so we cannot

make any assessment.

unless and until there is such an agreement,

concrete agreement,

with,

letters black and white which allow us to make an assessment

of any impact from the different policy angles that it may,

that it may arise.

Yes,

Jorge.

Yes,

I understand the position,

but are you in touch with the Ukrainian authorities,

you know,

is there any sort of dialogue going on to help them understand

how this draught deals,

you know,

versions of the deal could impact its ambition to

join the European Union and the association agreement?

Is there any dialogue between

Ukraine and Brussels regarding this specific deal,

the minerals deal?

Thank you.

Well,

we are in daily contact practically

with Ukrainian Ukrainian authorities from the different

departments at all levels

and therefore if there is an interest also from Ukraine to

have our assessment,

our opinion in this regard,

obviously we're open to provide that assistance to provide that input.

Yes.

Angela Skujins from TVP World,

you say that the European Commission is

in daily contact with Ukrainian counterparts regarding

the potential reality of this deal.

What posture is the European Commission taking in terms of these talks?

Thanks.

Do we want to

go back to Anitta on overall talks with Ukraine,

but let me say I said it with daily contact from the

various policy angles doesn't mean that it's necessarily on this particular

topic.

And I don't think there's nothing actually to be added by Anitta.

Yes,

so we go back and forth,

yes,

Jorge.

Yes,

but just to clarify,

you said obviously that this dialogue with Ukraine

encompasses a wide range of policies and priorities,

but has Ukraine specifically asked you for any sort of assistance or

guidance regarding the mineral deal and the impact on the accession process,

or this has not been officially

discussed in a sort of,

you know,

structured dialogue with Ukraine?

And that's where I resort to Anitta just to know if we are aware of any specific

requests in this regard.

And to,

to Guillaume,

and I see that we're not aware of any specific

question in,

this regard.

Yes,

Angela.

Has the European Commission made a request to Ukraine to discuss this?

So on the other end,

thank you.

We're not aware of any of any particular request in this regard,

but the line has been conveyed that such an agreement

would need to be looked into

from the perspective of

the relations between Ukraine and the EU and

notably in terms of the accession negotiations.

Good,

and we move on.

Yes.