Ukraine ‘ready to sign’ minerals deal with US: Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that Ukraine is “ready to sign” a minerals agreement with the United States, despite recent tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump. This deal involves exploiting Ukraine’s mineral resources, including rare earth minerals, in exchange for investments and potential security assurances from the U.S.
Value and Scope: The agreement is valued at approximately $1 trillion and involves not only minerals but also other natural resources like oil and gas.
Reconstruction Investment Fund: The deal includes the creation of a joint U.S.-Ukraine reconstruction investment fund, where Ukraine will contribute half of the earnings from future natural resource projects.
Security Guarantees: While the agreement does not explicitly include security guarantees, Zelenskyy views it as a step toward achieving them.
Tensions and Negotiations: The deal follows a public dispute between Zelenskyy and Trump, with Zelenskyy emphasizing the need for Ukraine’s perspective to be acknowledged.
Ukraine’s Position: Zelenskyy has stressed that Ukraine will not concede territory to Russia and seeks robust security guarantees.
U.S. Perspective: The U.S. aims to secure access to critical minerals while supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty, though the deal lacks concrete security commitments.
Global Relevance: The agreement could impact global mineral markets and U.S. mineral security, as other countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo seek similar deals.
