The ongoing tension between Ukraine and the United States has recently taken an intriguing turn as details of a potential deal have surfaced. While Ukraine has been seeking crucial security assurances to combat Russian forces, the U.S. has set its sights on tapping into Kyiv’s valuable mineral deposits, potentially worth $500 billion, according to a report by the Financial Times on Tuesday evening.
Efforts to reach a compromise between Washington and Kyiv have intensified following a period of strained relations between the two nations. President Donald Trump’s proposal to utilize Ukraine’s mineral resources as a form of repayment for military aid received during the conflict sparked controversy in Ukraine and across Europe. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy swiftly rejected the notion, prompting Trump to label him a “dictator.” Trump, on the other hand, continued to propagate the false narrative that Ukraine bore responsibility for Russia’s invasion.
In a notable development, Trump confirmed Zelenskyy’s upcoming visit to Washington scheduled for Friday. “Yeah, I hear that,” Trump mentioned in the Oval Office. “I hear that he’s coming on Friday.”
Trump has been critical of the substantial financial assistance provided to Kyiv during the tenure of former President Joe Biden, advocating for European nations to bear the burden due to their proximity to the conflict. The President expressed confidence in swiftly resolving Russia’s prolonged invasion of Ukraine, initially claiming a 24-hour timeline – which was later revised to six months by his administration. A senior official disclosed on Tuesday that a potential peace agreement could be finalized within 30 to 60 days, without providing further details on the strategy to achieve this ambitious goal.
The specifics of the revised agreement regarding American military support for Ukraine remain unclear. However, officials have hinted that the mineral deal is just one component of the broader negotiation. Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister and justice minister deeply involved in the talks, emphasized that the mineral partnership was part of a larger framework, as reported by the Financial Times.
For months, Ukraine has been open to granting Trump access to its reserves of critical and rare earth elements, essential for various industries including green technology and defense. Zelenskyy hoped that this gesture would solidify continued military support from the White House – a commitment that Trump has previously questioned.
In a strategic move to align with Trump’s penchant for deal-making, Russia concurrently proposed an arrangement where the U.S. could gain a stake in rare-earth minerals and other valuable metals in regions of Ukraine under Russian military control. This proposition was corroborated by two American officials familiar with intelligence on the matter and another individual briefed on the proposal.
