US and Ukraine Finalize Landmark Natural Resources Agreement.
After months of tense negotiations, the United States has signed a long-anticipated agreement with Ukraine to share profits from the future sale of the country’s mineral and energy reserves. The deal was signed in Washington by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant and Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
The agreement is intended to incentivize continued US investment in Ukraine’s defense and post-war reconstruction while also addressing concerns in Washington about the scale of aid already provided to Kyiv.
Ukraine holds significant reserves of critical minerals such as graphite, titanium, and lithium—materials essential for renewable energy, military technologies, and infrastructure. These resources remain highly sought after on the global market.
Secretary Bessant described the agreement as a symbol of both nations' commitment to lasting peace and prosperity in Ukraine. A key component of the deal is the creation of a joint investment fund—called the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund—which aims to support Ukraine’s economic recovery. A statement from the US Treasury noted that the fund acknowledges the "significant financial and material support" the US has given since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Bessant added that the initiative would help “unlock Ukraine’s growth assets.”
The language used in the announcement reflects a notably strong stance of solidarity with Ukraine, more direct than is typical for the Trump administration. It explicitly references "Russia’s full-scale invasion" and asserts that no individual or state that financed or supplied Russia’s war effort will benefit from Ukraine’s reconstruction.
The Kremlin has yet to respond to the agreement.
For Kyiv, the deal is seen as crucial to maintaining US military aid. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Deputy Prime Minister Svyrydenko said the fund would "attract global investment" into Ukraine. She detailed that the agreement would support projects in the mineral, oil, and gas sectors, although ownership of these resources would remain with Ukraine.
She emphasized the partnership would be equal—structured on a 50:50 basis—and would require ratification by Ukraine’s parliament. The deal also includes commitments of new US assistance, such as air defense systems.
The initiative, which Trump has championed as a condition for any future US security guarantees to Ukraine, fell short of the former president’s initial demands that Ukraine repay the full amount of US military aid provided since the war began. Still, Trump has praised the deal as a strategic win.
Speaking by phone to NewsNation, Trump said he encouraged Zelensky during their recent meeting at the Vatican to finalize the agreement, noting Ukraine’s valuable rare earth mineral assets: “They have things that a lot of places don’t have. It’s a big asset.”
The agreement comes against the backdrop of a US trade dispute with China, which currently controls around 90% of the global rare-earth supply.
A draft of the agreement suggests Ukraine will grant the US access to some of its natural resources in exchange for future security assistance. However, the process faced delays as US negotiators accused Kyiv of attempting last-minute changes—particularly over fund governance, transparency, and traceability requirements.
Technical documents for the agreement had already been signed the previous week, paving the way for the formal signing ceremony in Washington.
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