Heavy trucks transport mined ore from a site in central Ukraine. Getty Images
OUkraine has finalized an agreement with the U.S. on a major minerals deal, a senior official in Kyiv confirmed. The official described the deal as a positive step but did not share further details. Reports suggest the U.S. has dropped its demand for a $500 billion share in Ukraine’s natural resources, though security guarantees for Ukraine remain uncertain.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would visit Washington this week to sign the deal. Trump emphasized that Ukraine’s ability to continue defending itself relies on American financial and military support.
“They’re very brave,” Trump said. “But without U.S. money and equipment, this war would have ended long ago.”
When asked about continued military aid, Trump said it might continue “until we reach a deal with Russia.” He hinted at a possible peacekeeping arrangement but stressed that any solution must be acceptable to all sides.
Tensions between the leaders have been high. Last week, Trump called Zelensky a "dictator" and seemed to blame Ukraine for the war. He also accused Ukraine of rejecting the U.S. demand for mineral access and claimed Zelensky was influenced by Russian misinformation.
Zelensky strongly opposed selling Ukraine’s resources, stating, “I can't sell our state.” He also argued that U.S. aid had not reached the $500 billion figure suggested by Trump.
On Tuesday, Trump claimed the U.S. had provided between $300 billion and $350 billion in assistance. “We want to get that money back,” he said. “We’re helping Ukraine, but American taxpayers should get their investment back and more.”
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna confirmed that the minerals deal is part of a larger agreement between the two nations. However, Ukrainian officials say negotiations are ongoing, as the U.S. has adjusted some of its earlier demands.
The agreement marks a shift in U.S. foreign policy. In the past, American aid was often given for strategic or humanitarian reasons. Now, financial and security assistance comes with conditions. Analysts expect Trump’s administration to apply the same approach to future foreign relations.
According to Ukrainian sources, the deal will be signed by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The two countries also plan to establish a reconstruction investment fund.
Ukraine holds vast deposits of critical minerals like lithium, titanium, and graphite, along with coal, gas, oil, and uranium. These resources are essential for industries like energy production, electronics, and defense.
Last year, Zelensky proposed a “victory plan” that would allow foreign companies to access Ukraine’s mineral wealth after the war. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that the U.S. could gain access to minerals from Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.
Kyiv and its European allies worry that growing U.S.-Russia discussions could lead to secret negotiations, excluding Ukraine and European nations from key decisions about the war’s future.
