The U.S. and Ukraine have reached an agreement on a draft minerals deal that is crucial to Kyiv’s efforts to win support from Washington as President Donald Trump aims to swiftly end the conflict with Russia, according to two sources familiar with the situation. Trump mentioned that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is planning to visit Washington later this week to sign the deal, despite the recent exchange of hostile remarks between the two leaders.
Trump emphasized the need for peacekeeping troops in Ukraine if a resolution to the conflict is reached, although Moscow has been resistant to any deployment of NATO forces. The rush to finalize an end to the war and Trump’s shifting stance towards Moscow have raised concerns about potential concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin that could impact security in Ukraine and Europe.
It remains unclear whether the agreement includes specific U.S. security guarantees that Ukraine had requested or if there is a commitment from Washington to provide additional military aid. Discussions regarding future weapons shipments between the U.S. and Kyiv are still ongoing, according to one of the sources.
Despite Trump’s previous false claims about Zelenskiy and Ukraine, officials from both countries have agreed on the draft and recommended its signing. The deal could potentially grant the U.S. access to Ukraine’s extensive mineral resources, with Trump seeking repayment for Washington’s support to Kyiv.
The previous draft of the minerals agreement was rejected by Zelenskiy as it granted Washington rights to $500 billion worth of Ukraine’s natural resources, a request that Kyiv deemed excessive. The new agreement is said to address the security guarantees that Ukraine requires.
Zelenskiy’s visit to Washington was reportedly proposed by the White House, providing him with an opportunity to discuss continued U.S. support directly with Trump. The deal could potentially open up Ukraine’s significant mineral reserves, including critical minerals identified by the European Union, such as graphite, which is essential for electric vehicle batteries and nuclear reactors.
European allies have been caught off guard by Trump’s recent decisions to engage in talks with Russia to end the conflict in Ukraine, sidelining both Kyiv and Europe. A meeting at the White House could allow Zelenskiy to advocate for continued U.S. support and address the concerns raised by Trump’s statements.
The agreement represents a crucial step in solidifying U.S.-Ukraine relations and could have significant implications for Ukraine’s mineral wealth and geopolitical standing in the region.
