• President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky will sign a mineral resources deal on Friday in Washington.
• Ukraine will reportedly contribute 50% of future revenues from untapped resources to a jointly controlled fund with the U.S.
• The agreement follows Trump’s demands for “payback” on approximately $175 billion in U.S. aid to Ukraine.
• Security guarantees remain vague with Trump suggesting Europe should take primary responsibility.
• The deal could help reduce China’s monopoly on critical minerals while supporting Ukraine’s economy.

President Trump announced Wednesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Washington on Friday to sign a landmark minerals agreement, bringing closure to weeks of escalating tensions between the two leaders. The deal represents a significant shift in US-Ukraine relations, with Trump insisting America can no longer provide unlimited aid without compensation.

Under the preliminary agreement approved by Ukraine’s Cabinet, Kyiv would reportedly contribute 50% of all future revenues from its untapped mineral resources, oil and gas to a jointly controlled fund with the United States. The deal explicitly excludes existing resource deposits, facilities, licenses and rents from consideration.

“We’re doing very well with Russia-Ukraine. President Zelensky is going to be coming on Friday. It’s now confirmed, and we’re going to be signing an agreement,” Trump said Wednesday, describing it as a “very big deal.”

A transactional approach to foreign policy

The agreement follows Trump’s repeated criticism of Ukraine’s war effort and his insistence on “payback” for approximately $175 billion in US assistance provided since Russia’s 2022 invasion. Trump has consistently questioned the wisdom of continued financial support without tangible returns for America.

Just last week, Trump called Zelensky a “dictator” and warned he “better move fast or he is not going to have a country left.” House Speaker Mike Johnson reinforced this position, stating there was “no appetite” for additional Ukraine funding bills.

Zelensky initially balked at earlier drafts that would have required Ukraine to contribute $500 billion worth of mineral rights and potentially repay twice the amount of any future American aid. “I am not signing something that 10 generations of Ukrainians will have to repay,” he told reporters at a news conference after the initial proposal.

Security guarantees remain uncertain

The draft agreement reportedly includes language stating that “the Government of the United States of America supports Ukraine’s efforts to obtain security guarantees needed to establish lasting peace,” but contains no explicit American security commitments.

Trump made clear Wednesday that the U.S. would limit its security involvement. “I’m not going to make security guarantees beyond very much. We’re going to have Europe do that because we’re talking about Europe is their next-door neighbor,” he said.

Ukrainian officials have consistently pressed for concrete American security assurances, believing European guarantees alone would be insufficient to deter future Russian aggression. U.S. officials have suggested that significant American financial interests in Ukraine would naturally create a deterrent against future Russian threats.

Ukraine possesses substantial deposits of critical minerals including titanium, lithium, graphite and rare earth elements crucial for technology and energy sectors. The deal could potentially help reduce China’s current monopoly on these resources while providing Ukraine with desperately needed economic support.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has countered by offering the U.S. access to Russia’s own mineral reserves, claiming Russia “undoubtedly has significantly more resources of this kind than Ukraine,” including those in territories annexed from Ukraine.

The dramatic diplomatic breakthrough comes as Ukraine faces mounting battlefield challenges after three years of grinding warfare. For Trump, the agreement represents a vindication of his transactional approach to foreign policy – one that prioritizes clear American benefits over unconditional support.

As both leaders prepare for Friday’s signing ceremony, the final impact of this agreement remains uncertain. While the framework establishes a significant new economic partnership, the practical implementation, financial details and security implications will require extensive further negotiation.

Sources for this article include:

Reuters.com

NYTimes.com

USAToday.com

FoxNews.com