FT: Zelenskyy polygraphs officials over leaked draft of US-Ukraine minerals deal

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has directed the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) to investigate the leak of the latest US proposal for profiting from Ukrainian assets, with the inquiry including the use of a polygraph.

Source: Financial Times (FT), citing Ukrainian government officials

Details: The investigation follows growing tensions between Kyiv and the Donald Trump administration over the terms of a proposed deal concerning Ukraine's critical minerals and energy assets.

According to the Financial Times, Ukrainian officials have been taken aback by the extent of the latest US demands and view certain aspects of the proposal to profit from Ukraine's infrastructure as politically unacceptable.

Quote: "The Ukrainian officials said that lie detector tests had been administered on staff across several ministries, but declined to give further details or specify how many individuals had been questioned.

The office of Ukraine's president declined to comment. The security service said in a statement that it works within the law to protect Ukraine's security and keeps certain details about its activities confidential."

Details: The Financial Times stressed that polygraphs are a controversial tool, with their scientific effectiveness often questioned. However, law enforcement agencies frequently use them in criminal investigations and to screen foreign nationals seeking to join the military.

The investigation reportedly began after opposition MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak made public details of the draft agreement on 26 March, claiming to have received a copy.

Background: In March, Zelenskyy expressed outrage when the clauses of the potential new agreement were circulated in the media, even though he had not yet read the document.

"I wonder who is transmitting this information," the Ukrainian leader said at the time.

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