KYIV (Reuters) – Ukraine revealed on Wednesday that it had tentatively agreed to allocate revenue from specific mineral resources to the United States, ahead of an anticipated visit to Washington by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday. The significance of this agreement lies in Ukraine’s efforts to secure robust support from U.S. President Donald Trump in his pursuit of a swift resolution to the conflict with Russia. Notably, ongoing U.S.-Russian negotiations, from which Kyiv has been excluded thus far, are slated to proceed on Thursday.
President Zelenskiy emphasized, “The key point for me is that we are not indebted. There is no debt of $500 billion, $350 billion, or even $100 billion in this agreement because that would be unjust.” Zelenskiy’s remarks came during a news briefing on the agreement, portraying a stance of financial integrity.
President Trump has framed the pact as a form of reimbursement for the substantial aid provided to Kyiv during the conflict. Zelenskiy, in return for the mineral rights, has sought security assurances, although the outcome of these demands remains uncertain.
Zelenskiy highlighted the broader implications of the agreement, stating, “This accord constitutes a component of our comprehensive engagements with the United States. It could potentially serve as a precursor to future security assurances… while an agreement is binding, we must grasp the wider implications.” The success of the deal, Zelenskiy emphasized, hinges on his forthcoming discussions with President Trump.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal affirmed that Washington pledged to back Kyiv’s endeavors to secure security guarantees under the finalized agreement; however, no such assurances were offered by the American side. Concomitantly, as negotiations surrounding the mineral deal unfolded, bilateral talks commenced between Washington and Moscow.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov disclosed that the discussions in Istanbul on Thursday would address resolving bilateral conflicts as part of a broader dialogue crucial to resolving the Ukraine conflict.
President Trump indicated his anticipation of a significant accord, noting that Zelenskiy was keen on finalizing a momentous deal during his visit to Washington on Friday. Shmyhal outlined the procedural steps, declaring that the Ukrainian government would endorse the agreed-upon terms to facilitate signing later in the day. Describing it as a preliminary pact, he indicated that the formalization of the agreement was contingent upon mutual agreement on security assurances between the two presidents.
The draft agreement, dated February 25 and examined by Reuters, underscored the U.S.’s support for Ukraine in obtaining the necessary security guarantees to establish enduring peace. As per Shmyhal’s televised explanation, Ukraine would contribute 50% of all revenues derived from future monetization of pertinent state-owned natural resources and related infrastructure. These proceeds would be channeled into a jointly managed fund by the U.S. and Ukraine, with no decisions concerning the
