After months of presidential tension, biting social media posts, and geopolitical chess, the United States and Ukraine have inked a groundbreaking minerals deal.
The agreement gives Washington a stake in Ukraine’s natural resources — ushering in a controversial but potentially transformative chapter in the war-battered country’s recovery amid the Russian invasion.
The newly signed deal establishes the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, a joint venture that will see both nations profit from the future development and sale of Ukraine’s vast energy and mineral reserves.
And, of course, it comes just months after President Trump boldly told President Zelensky that he was “gambling with World War Three” if he didn’t sign a deal.
t’s the clearest sign yet that Ukraine’s natural wealth — once overlooked — is now at the center of global power struggles, economic survival, and the long-term blueprint for peace.
Why This Deal Matters
The agreement provides the US with a tangible economic incentive to continue investing in Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction — while also addressing growing questions in Washington over how much support has already been poured into the conflict since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Ukraine is believed to hold around 5% of the world’s critical raw materials, including large deposits of lithium, graphite, and titanium — minerals essential for everything from electric vehicle batteries to wind turbines and military hardware.
But with many of these deposits lying untapped, Kyiv needed more than just global sympathy amid Russia’s invasion. It needed investment.
Now, it’s got it.
The Details — And the Dealmakers
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the arrangement a “historic economic partnership,” declaring it a move that will help “unlock Ukraine’s growth assets.” In a video statement, Bessent emphasized that the 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.”
“Thanks to President Trump’s tireless efforts to secure a lasting peace, I am glad to announce the signing of today’s historic economic partnership agreement,” he said. “And to be clear, no state or person who financed or supplied the Russian war machine will be allowed to benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine.”
The deal was signed by First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko on behalf of Ukraine, who laid out the terms on social media.
According to her, the partnership will function on a 50:50 basis, and crucially, “includes no debt obligation to the US.”
Svyrydenko confirmed the resources will remain the property of Ukraine, and it will be Kyiv that decides when and where extraction occurs. “The fund’s income and contributions will not be taxed by either country,” she added.
Beyond minerals, the agreement covers oil and gas projects, with a central focus on attracting Western investment and advanced technologies. In return, the US will provide Ukraine with new military assistance, such as air defence systems.
The fund still needs to be ratified by Ukraine’s parliament, but the wheels are already turning on what both countries are calling a long-term collaboration for peace and prosperity.
A Strategic Shot Across Russia’s Bow
While the Kremlin has yet to formally respond, the language of the agreement offers no ambiguity about who it targets. It openly refers to “Russia’s full-scale invasion” and promises that those who “financed or supplied the Russian war machine” will not see a dime from the reconstruction.
