A major agreement between the United States and Ukraine, signed on May 1, 2025, gives the U.S. priority access to Ukraine’s important minerals while also creating a joint fund for rebuilding the country. The deal, which came after months of difficult negotiations, is a big win for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who managed to avoid having to repay billions of dollars in past U.S. military aid.
The agreement includes a wide variety of valuable resources, such as rare earth elements, oil, and natural gas, according to AP News. However, it does not cover resources that are already making money for the Ukrainian government, meaning any profits from the deal depend on new investments.
The list of minerals involved includes 55 different items, with room to add more later. Some of the key materials mentioned are rare earth elements like lanthanum, cerium, and scandium, as well as critical minerals like titanium, lithium, and uranium, as reported by Reuters.
US & Ukraine sign deal for mineral rights
A key part of the agreement is the creation of the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund. Both countries will share equal control over how the fund is managed. The U.S. will provide money through the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, with the goal of bringing in more investment and technology from American and European companies.
Ukraine’s contribution will be 50% of all future profits from government-owned natural resources covered by the deal. Both sides will also give direct funds and equipment, with the U.S. possibly supplying aid like air defense systems. Importantly, the fund’s profits will be put back into mining, oil and gas, and infrastructure projects, and no money will be taken out for the first 10 years.
Getting to this agreement was not easy. At first, the Trump administration wanted a deal where Ukraine would pay back $500 billion in mineral profits to cover the cost of U.S. wartime support. Zelenskyy strongly rejected this idea, refusing any agreement that would leave future generations of Ukrainians in debt.
The final deal is a compromise, meeting the U.S. need for access to important resources while protecting Ukraine’s financial independence. There were last-minute disagreements over how the fund would be run, how transparent it would be, and how money would be tracked, but these issues were eventually resolved.
After a tense argument at the White House, earlier talks almost fell apart, where Trump accused Zelenskyy of “gambling with World War Three.” A later meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy at Pope Francis’ funeral helped move things forward toward the final agreement.
This deal is extremely important for Ukraine. It ensures continued U.S. military and financial support, which is crucial for both Ukraine’s defense against Russia and its recovery after the war. The investment and technology brought in by the fund could greatly strengthen Ukraine’s mineral industry.
Published: May 1, 2025 10:20 am