KYIV, Ukraine—In the wake of sustained negotiations, a significant agreement has emerged between the United States and Ukraine, granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s critical minerals and natural resources. This pact, which Ukraine views as a strategic move to secure long-term support against Russian aggression, symbolizes a potential turning point in the bilateral relations between the two nations.
Ukrainian representatives express that the finalized version of the pact, signed on Wednesday, promises more benefits for Ukraine compared to previous proposals, which they felt marginalized Kyiv and offered extensive control of resources to the U.S. The agreement still awaits ratification by the Ukrainian parliament and proposes the creation of a reconstruction fund aimed at maintaining American military aid. A similar deal had almost reached fruition earlier but was derailed during a tense meeting within the Oval Office involving U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“This agreement brings mutual advantages for both parties,” stated Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who represented Ukraine during the signing. “It underscores the U.S.’s dedication to fostering long-term peace in Ukraine and acknowledges Ukraine’s role in global security by relinquishing its nuclear arsenal,” she noted in a Facebook post.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarked on the timing of the signing, indicating a pivotal week in international efforts led by the U.S. to resolve the conflict that has seemingly hit a standstill. Ukraine perceives the pact as a mechanism to assure the continuous commitment from its pivotal ally, particularly in military support amidst its three-year conflict with Russia.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, representing the U.S. in the signing, emphasized the agreement’s clear message: “This deal indicates the Trump administration’s dedication to a peace process focused on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine for the long haul.”
**Deal Details**
The agreement encompasses a range of minerals, notably rare earth elements, along with other precious resources such as oil and natural gas, as detailed by Ukraine’s government. Importantly, it exempts resources already generating revenue for Ukraine’s state coffers, situating potential profits as contingent upon new investments. Additionally, it absolves Ukraine of any debt obligations arising from the pact, implying that the profits from the fund would not be utilized to repay U.S. support in the past.
Ukrainian authorities stress the agreement upholds Ukraine’s full ownership over its resources, empowering the state to determine extraction processes. Notably absent is any explicit assurance of security to deter future Russian threats, which Ukraine had long sought.
The agreement enumerates 55 minerals while leaving room for possible expansion.
Among the list are rare earth elements—key materials in consumer technologies like cellphones and electric vehicles—that are of particular interest to former President Trump, as these elements are critical minerals such as titanium, lithium, and uranium.
**Understanding Rare Earth Elements**
Rare earth elements, constituting a group of 17, are indispensable in many consumer technologies, including mobile phones and electric vehicles. Presently, China dominates production, prompting efforts from the U.S. and Europe to reduce dependence on Beijing, seen as a significant geopolitical rival.
**The Reconstruction Fund**
According to Svyrydenko, the U.S.-Ukraine agreement sets up a reconstruction investment fund managed jointly by both nations, backed by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, which is anticipated to draw investments and expertise from both American and European entities.
The framework stipulates that Ukraine is to contribute half of future profits stemming from state-owned natural resources into the fund. The U.S. contribution will manifest as direct funds and critically needed military equipment, including air defense systems. The proceeds are foreseen to be reinvested in domains like mining, oil, and infrastructure development, with a provision against withdrawing profits in the first decade.
Initially, Trump administration officials pushed for terms granting the U.S. $500 billion in profits from exploited minerals as recompense for wartime support, a proposition that Zelenskyy ultimately declined, unwilling to burden future generations of Ukrainians with such a debt.
**Ukraine’s Minerals Industry**
Currently, Ukraine’s rare earth elements remain largely unexploited due to rigorous state regulations, inadequate deposit information, and ongoing conflict. Despite scant geological data and dispersed reserves, the broader potential for Ukraine’s natural resources appears promising.
Especially noteworthy is Ukraine’s store of titanium, a material crucial in industries like aerospace and medicine, touted to be among Europe’s most extensive. Moreover, Ukraine’s lithium reserves, integral to battery, ceramic, and glass industries, rank as some of the continent’s largest.
In 2021, Ukraine’s mineral sector contributed 6.1% to the GDP and accounted for 30% of exports. However, approximately 40% of Ukraine’s metalliferous resources remain inaccessible due to Russian control, underscoring the strategic imperative for development, especially for U.S. interests, to capitalize on untapped potential before further Russian advancement.