The US -Ukraine Minerals Agreement – What do we know

OR Ukraine He finally proceeded to grant his natural resources to the US after Washington’s suffocating pressures that set the term of the country’s rare earths for the continuation of any support. Donald Trump had urgently raised the issue, even arguing that this is the way to pay off Kiev for Washington’s help to war with Russia.

The US blackmail had received flesh and bones and on camera with the public shooting of Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski at the White House and continued with the direct challenge of his power.

Ukraine, in front of the rest of the US demands that ask her to make important territorial concessions, quickly agreed to the prospect of exploiting her natural resources by Washington bargaining the terms of this concession.

At dawn on Thursday (Greek time) US and Ukraine eventually signed the notorious agreement. The details of the project are not known at present, nor if Kiev has received in exchange for security guarantees, which Zelenski sought.

Both sides, however, have confirmed that an investment fund is set up to search for fossil resources and determine how revenue will be distributed.

What do we know about the agreement

Ukraine Finance Minister Julia Svirindenko threw for Washington on Wednesday after an obvious progress in the negotiations for the signing of the deal with US Finance Minister Scott Besed.

After meeting with Besend, Svirindenko with her posting on X described some of the terms included in the agreement.

According to her, there will be a « investment fund of reconstruction » that will help attract western investments in Ukrainian projects in the sector of minerals, oil and gas.

« The resources will remain in the ownership of Ukraine and Kiev will choose where the mining will take place, » he said.

« The partnership will be equal, on a 50/50 basis, » Svirindenko wrote, adding that the deal includes no debt obligation to the US.

« The US will play a role by helping to attract investment and technology for projects in Ukraine, » he said.

Under the agreement, the United States will contribute new assistance to Kiev, which may include, for example, the air defense systems have also been noted by the finance minister without giving further details.

In addition, the proceeds and contributions of this investment fund will not be taxed in either of the two countries.

« The agreement should be ratified by the Ukrainian Parliament, » Svirindenko said, adding that it « recognizes Kiev’s contribution to global security ».

On Behalf of the Government of Ukraine, I Signed the Agreement on the Establishment of a United States – Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund.

Together with the United States, We Are Creating the Fund That Will Attract Global Investment Into Country. pic.twitter.com/8ryyamqw83

– Yulia svyrydenko (@svyrydenko_y) April 30, 2025

US statements

The US Treasury said, « this agreement, clearly marks in Russia that the Trump government is committed to a peace process focusing a free, dominant and prosperous Ukraine in the long run.

And in order to be clear, no state or person who funded or supplied the Russian war machine will not be allowed to benefit from the rebuilding of Ukraine. « 

Donald Trump has not missed the opportunity to stress that the deal is a return on the US spent on war so far.

« Biden handed them $ 350 billion, » Trump told Newsnation. And he continued: « We made an agreement where we are theoretically getting much more than $ 350 billion, » he added, though international media point out that the money the US gave is less than Trump claims.

Kiev’s allies have long been eyeing the country’s mineral wealth. Ukraine has 22 of the 50 of the 50 materials characterized as critical by the US Geological Survey.

These include rare land and other materials that are critical for the production of electronic devices, clean energy technologies and certain weapons systems.

The global production of minerals of rare earths and other strategically important materials has long been dominated by China, with the result that western countries are desperately looking for other alternative sources – including Ukraine.

A Memorandum of Understanding prepared by the Biden government last year said that the US would promote Ukraine’s « investment opportunities in mining projects » to US companies in exchange for the creation of financial incentives from Kiev and the implementation of good business and environmental practices.

Ukraine already has a similar agreement with the European Union, which was signed in 2021.

How does Russia react

Russia has not yet commented on the agreement, but earlier this year, Vladimir Putin told state television that he is ready to « offer » resources to US partners in joint projects, including mining in Russia’s « new territories » – a reference to the Russian sections.

Putin said that a possible US-Ukraine agreement on rare minerals is not anxious and that Russia « has » undoubtedly has, I would like to emphasize significantly more resources of this kind from Ukraine. « 

« As for the new territories, it’s the same. We are ready to attract foreign partners to the so -called news, our historical territories, which have returned to the Russian Federation, « he added.

With information from BBC and CNN

Source: In