US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that Washington has negotiated a critical minerals deal with Kyiv, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is expected to visit later this week to sign the agreement.
Ukraine Agrees Minerals Deal With US
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that Washington has negotiated a critical minerals deal with Kyiv, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is expected to visit later this week to sign the agreement. The deal comes amid tensions between the two nations, as Washington sides with Moscow in talks to bring an end to the Ukraine-Russia war.
Trump had demanded that Ukraine give access to its rare earth minerals to compensate for the billions of dollars of wartime aid it received under Joe Biden. The deal is crucial for Kyiv’s efforts to secure continued US support in its war against Russia, strengthen ties with the Trump administration, and pave the way for a long-term US security commitment. The White House considers the deal a first step toward reaching a ceasefire with Russia.
However, Kyiv initially rejected the original US proposals, citing concerns over insufficient security guarantees for Ukraine and the hefty $500 billion price tag, which it argued would burden future generations with unsustainable debt. According to Ukrainian officials, Kyiv is now prepared to sign an agreement with the US for the joint development of its mineral resources, including oil and gas, after the US dropped its demand for a right to $500bn in potential revenue from resource exploitation.
What Are Rate Earth Elements
Rare earth elements are a group of 17 essential metals used in various consumer technologies, including cellphones, hard drives, and electric and hybrid vehicles. It remains unclear whether Trump is specifically targeting these elements in Ukraine, which is also rich in other valuable minerals such as lithium, titanium, and uranium. China, Trump’s primary geopolitical rival, is the world’s leading producer of rare earth elements. Both the US and Europe have been working to reduce their reliance on Beijing for these critical resources.
