Ukraine-U.S. Minerals Deal Stirs Debate on Security Guarantees
A controversial minerals sharing agreement signed between the United States and Ukraine on Wednesday has ignited discussions about its potential to bolster Ukraine’s economy while raising questions about security commitments and access to resources in Russian-occupied territories.
The deal, finalized after months of contentious negotiations, is framed by U.S. officials as a cornerstone for long-term economic cooperation.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a video announcement:
This partnership allows the United States to invest alongside Ukraine to unlock Ukraine’s growth assets, mobilize American talent, capital and governance standards that will improve Ukraine’s investment climate and accelerate Ukraine’s economic recovery
Scott Bessent.
Bessent also emphasized that the agreement signals to Russia the Trump administration’s commitment to a “free, sovereign and prosperous Ukraine.”
In Ukraine, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal described the accord as preserving Ukraine’s control over its resources while establishing a Reconstruction Investment Fund.
He noted that it avoids converting prior U.S. aid into debt, a concern initially raised by President Donald Trump, who pushed the deal to recoup over $100 billion in aid to Kyiv.
Parliamentary Scrutiny and Russian Criticism
The agreement awaits ratification by Ukraine’s parliament, with some lawmakers expressing caution.
“I don’t know what we have signed,” said Oleksandr Merezhko, chair of the parliament’s foreign affairs committee.
“It seems like we have managed to dodge Trump’s idea to turn the previously-provided U.S. military and material aid into Ukrainian debts.” Lawmaker Oleksiy Goncharenko echoed the need to review the final document, while Yaroslav Zheleznyak estimated a potential vote by mid-May.
In Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Security Council, derided the deal.
“Trump has broken the Kyiv regime into paying for American aid with minerals,” he wrote on Telegram. “Now they will have to pay for military supplies with the national wealth of a disappearing country.”
Uncertain Access and Ongoing Conflict
Questions persist about accessing Ukraine’s mineral resources, with approximately 40% of its metal reserves under Russian control, according to Ukrainian think tanks.
As the deal is debated, the war continues unabated, with recent drone attacks in Odesa, Kharkiv, and Russian-controlled Kherson underscoring the ongoing violence.
While Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the deal a “milestone” in the U.S.-Ukraine partnership, the absence of concrete security guarantees remains a concern.
As Kyiv pushes for an immediate ceasefire and Moscow proposes a limited truce for May, the agreement’s broader implications for peace and stability hang in the balance.