U.S. and Ukraine Seal Minerals Deal

After months of delay and tough negotiations, the United States and Ukraine have signed a landmark minerals agreement aimed at deepening long-term economic cooperation.

The deal, announced Wednesday in Washington, is being positioned by the Trump administration as a new model of U.S. support for Ukraine—one that replaces traditional military aid with strategic investment.

The minerals pact, which had been stalled for over two months, signals a significant pivot in how Washington engages with Kyiv. According to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the agreement reflects a “mutual commitment to lasting peace and prosperity” in Ukraine, while sending a clear message to Moscow.

“This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign and prosperous Ukraine over the long term,” Bessent stated during the announcement.

In a notable shift from recent rhetoric, the U.S. Treasury statement described Russia’s actions as a “full-scale invasion”—a departure from the Trump administration’s usual framing of the war as a “conflict” with shared blame.

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The deal grants Ukraine full sovereignty over its rare earth minerals and subsoil resources—an issue that had previously been a sticking point in negotiations. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal called the agreement “good, equal and beneficial,” emphasizing that Ukraine will maintain complete control over its natural resources, infrastructure, and mineral rights.

“Ukraine will not be required to repay any debt for previous U.S. aid since Russia’s invasion,” Shmyhal added, clarifying a major concern that had held up talks.

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As part of the agreement, both countries will establish a Reconstruction Investment Fund with equal voting rights. The fund will be used to support mineral, oil and gas development, and related infrastructure projects inside Ukraine.

Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko noted that the fund’s profits will be reinvested entirely within Ukraine to support long-term recovery and development. “This is about more than minerals—it’s about rebuilding a self-reliant, future-facing Ukraine,” she said.

Under former President Joe Biden, the U.S. provided tens of billions in military aid to help Ukraine fend off Russia’s invasion in February 2022. However, the Trump administration has moved away from direct military support, instead demanding economic returns for U.S. assistance.

Trump initially pushed for $500 billion worth of mineral concessions—roughly four times the U.S. investment in Ukraine since the war began—but ultimately agreed to a more balanced arrangement.

While the shift from arms to investment has stirred debate, both sides seem to view the deal as a turning point. For Ukraine, it’s a chance to rebuild with foreign backing while retaining sovereignty over its natural wealth. For the U.S., it’s a strategic investment in a partner nation at the crossroads of global geopolitics.