1 / 9US-Ukraine Minerals Deal | Reports suggest the US and Ukraine are closing in on a multi-billion-dollar minerals agreement aimed at keeping Ukraine “free, sovereign, and secure”. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had rejected an initial draft of the deal, opposing Trump’s demand that Ukraine contribute $500 billion to a US-controlled fund. (Image: Shutterstock)
2 / 9A revised draft reportedly softens key conditions, now proposing a fund where Ukraine would allocate 50% of revenues from future state-owned mineral sales—including oil, gas, and logistics. The fund could also invest in projects within Ukraine. (Image: Shutterstock)
3 / 9Reports suggest Zelenskyy sees the deal as preliminary and demands US security guarantees against Russian aggression. However, Trump dismissed extensive US commitments, urging Ukraine to seek security assurances from Europe instead. Trump appeared to reject Ukraine’s longstanding ambition of joining NATO.
4 / 9Trump Card | Trump calls the deal an ‘economic partnership’. “This deal, which is an ‘Economic Partnership,’ will ensure the American people recoup the tens of billions of dollars and military equipment sent to Ukraine, while also helping Ukraine’s economy grow as this brutal and savage war comes to an end,” Trump said on Truth Social before the deal was finalised. Trump has tied US military aid to access to Ukraine’s mineral reserves, but the deal, reportedly, omits the security guarantees Kyiv originally sought.
5 / 9What Minerals Does Ukraine Have? | Ukraine holds about 5% of the world’s critical raw materials—resources vital for key industries but with an uncertain supply. These materials are essential for sectors like renewable energy, digital tech, aerospace, and defence. It holds deposits of 20 out of the 50 minerals the US considers critical for economic growth and defence, including titanium, lithium, uranium, and rare earths.
6 / 9Ukraine’s Mineral Wealth | According to Statista, Peats leads Ukraine’s share in global mineral and commodity production or reserves in 2024 with a 2.2% global share, followed by bromine at 2.0%. Iron ore accounts for 1.7%, while titanium mineral concentrate makes up 1.3%. Additionally, titanium (pigment) holds a 1.2% share, and pig iron contributes 0.5%. (Image: Shutterstock)
7 / 9Critical Mineral Deposits in Ukraine | Ukraine’s mineral reserves are vast but largely untapped, though some reports suggest their extractable resources may be overestimated.
8 / 9Why the US Wants Ukraine’s Minerals | Critical minerals are the foundation of the 21st Century economy. They are key to renewable energy, military applications and industrial infrastructure. China controls 75% of rare earth deposits in the world, and a mineral deal with Ukraine helps the US reduce dependency on China. In 2024, China banned exports of certain rare earth minerals to the US, following earlier restrictions in 2023—intensifying the need for alternative sources. (Image: Shutterstock)
9 / 9What Is in It for Ukraine | The Trump administration views the deal as a way to recoup US investment while tapping into Ukraine’s vast untapped mineral wealth. For Ukraine, it’s a chance to strengthen ties with Trump and secure a long-term partnership with their key wartime ally. (Image: Shutterstock)
