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Ukraine–United States Mineral Resources Agreement

Ukraine–United States Mineral Resources Agreement
Bilateral Agreement Establishing Terms and Conditions for a Reconstruction Investment Fund
TypeFramework agreement
Drafted25 February 2025
SignedNot signed
LocationWashington, D.C., United States
Parties Ukraine
 United States
LanguageEnglish, Ukrainian

The proposed Ukraine–United States Mineral Resources Agreement is a framework agreement published on 25 February 2025 establishing terms for joint investment in Ukraine's natural resources including critical rare-earth elements, oil, and gas and reconstruction efforts.[1][2] On 25 February, Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that the two countries had reached a preliminary agreement to strengthen economic cooperation and attract investments for Ukraine's recovery from the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War.[1] President Trump has insisted on a resources agreement as a condition for continued support, framing it as a means for Ukraine to "pay back" the substantial U.S. aid provided during the conflict.[3]

On 28 February 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met at the White House in Washington with President Trump and Vice President JD Vance,[4] for a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office to sign the agreement.[4] The meeting ended abruptly and the Resources Agreement was not signed.[5][6][7]

According to The Guardian, on 2 March, Zelenskyy said that the "deal on minerals was now ready to be signed."[8]

Towards the end of Trump's speech to a joint session of Congress on 4 March, Trump sent a message to President Zelensky that the New York Times described as "conciliatory".[9]

Background

In September 2024, President Zelenskyy proposed U.S. participation in developing Ukraine's natural resources in exchange for continued support in countering Russian aggression.[10] Ukraine possesses significant deposits of minerals, including lithium, graphite, manganese, and titanium ore. Many of these resources remain unexploited, while some deposits are located in territories occupied by Russia.[11]

On 16 October 2024, Zelenskyy put forth his proposed План перемоги ("victory plan") to the Ukrainian parliament—Verkhovna Rada which outlined strategies to strengthen Ukraine, and potentially end the conflict with Russia. This included a "special agreement on joint investment and use" of Ukraine's natural resources—such as uranium, titanium, and lithium—with the European Union and the United States.[12] The plan also included a renewed request for inclusion in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and a robust post-war security framework.[12] The defense aspect of the proposal included assistance in detering Russian aggression.[12] French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu—under instruction from French President Emmanuel Macron —entered into bilateral discussion with Ukraine on the country's rare earth minerals in October 2024 for the French defense industry.[13]

Following the November election, Trump began demanding US$500 billion as compensation from Ukraine to pay back U.S. aid during the war.[11] Zelenskyy said that this would amount to "selling" Ukraine. Trump replied by saying Zelenskyy was "a dictator".[14]

On 3 February 2025, Trump said that continual support from the United States would be conditional on the acquisition of Ukraine's rare minerals.[15] However, this condition was later excluded from the agreement.[11]

During his 24 February 2025 Oval Office meeting with President Macron, Trump "incorrectly" complained that the United States had contributed US$350 billion which was a much larger contribution than that of the European Union. Macron sought security guarantees from the Trump administration if a ceasefire with Russia is realized.[16] The Congressional Research Service said that from 2022 to 2024, the appropriation was US$182 billion. Trump's demand for the resources agreement, is a way for Ukraine to "pay back" the U.S. aid already provided to Ukraine and is a condition of any ongoing support. On 24 February, Trump said that they were close to an agreement "where we get our money back over a period of time."[3]

Key provisions

The agreement stipulated the establishment of a jointly-owned and managed Reconstruction Investment Fund to foster lasting peace and economic security in Ukraine; Ukraine's contribution of 50% of future revenue from "Government-owned natural resource assets";[17] and the United States' long-term financial commitment to Ukraine's economic stability.[18][19]

Negotiation process

According to a 27 February The Kyiv Independent article, French Defense Minister Lecornu had been in talks with Ukraine since the fall of 2024 on Ukraine's rare earth minerals, following Zelenskyy's 16 October 2024 victory plan proposal.[20] Cornu clarified that it was not Trump, but Zelensky and his team who had introduced the issue of the potential of transactional opportunities of natural resources.[20]

A draft of the 25 February proposal entitled "Bilateral Agreement Establishing Terms and Conditions for a Reconstruction Investment Fund" published by CNN, did not provide explicit future security guarantees to Ukraine.[1][17] Zelenskyy described it as a framework for the 28 February in-person meeting in Washington.[1] The draft proposed a joint-ownership Reconstruction Investment Fund.[1][21]

The 25 February draft agreement—as reported by Reuters—indicated that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha were designated to sign the document.[18]

For Zelensky, the main objective for the 28 February 2025 Oval Office meeting to "discuss the deal and a possible inclusion of security guarantees", according to the The Kyiv Independent.[13] with Trump was to call on him to not abandon Ukraine, and to caution him against becoming too close to President Putin.[22] The meeting began well but when Zelenskyy said that Putin was not trustworthy and had previously broken promises to end fighting, Vance rebuked him. Trump said that Putin had never broken an agreement with him. Trump accused Zelenskyy of "killing a very large number of people", "gambling with World War III" and being "very disrespectful to the country, this country that's backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have", and the Ukrainian delegation was asked to leave the White House.[22] With the abrupt ending of the meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy, the agreement was not signed.[22]

On 2 March Zelenskyy told the British media that he believes the relationship between the United States and Ukraine can be restored, and that he will sign the mineral resources deal.[23][8]

Trump's message to Ukraine in his 4 March speech to a joint session of Congress was described as "conciliatory" by the New York Times.[9]

2025 London Summit on Ukraine

Main article: 2025 London Summit on Ukraine

In response to the Oval Office meeting, on 2 March, Zelinskyy met with fourteen leaders of European Union nations, the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Mark Rutte, the Secretary general of NATO at the 2025 London Summit to secure guarantees to Ukraine and to create a Ukraine peace proposal to present to the United States.[24][25][26] Le Monde described the Summit as "eighteen allies" coming together "after Trump berated his Ukrainian counterpart in an unprecedented White House blow-up."[26]

Starmer called for a "coalition of the willing" to defend Ukraine.[27]

Zelenskyy also met with Charles III.[27] Before leaving London on 2 March, at the end of the summit, Zelenskyy spoke to reporters in Ukrainian saying that the "deal on minerals was now ready to be signed."[8] He declined to comment on the Oval Office meeting saying it was best "to leave this to history."[8]

See also

Wikisource

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Tarasova-Markina, Daria; Vlasova, Svitlana; Tuysuz, Gul; Walsh, Nick Paton; Edwards, Christian (26 February 2025). "Zelensky calls US-Ukraine minerals deal a 'framework' as it emerges agreement has no security guarantees". CNN. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  2. ^ Abdurasulov, Abdujalil; Waterhouse, James; Jaroslav Lukiv; Zurcher, Anthony (26 February 2025). "Ukraine PM says minerals deal agreed with US". Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  3. ^ a b Hutzler, Alexandra (26 February 2025). "Fact-checking Trump's claims on amount of US aid to Ukraine". ABC News. Archived from the original on 28 February 2025. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  4. ^ a b Baker, Peter (28 February 2025). "Tempers flare before Zelensky abruptly departs the White House without signing a minerals deal". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  5. ^ "Live updates: Trump and Vance call Zelenskyy 'disrespectful' in Oval Office meeting when pushed for US security commitment". AP News. Archived from the original on 4 March 2025. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  6. ^ Cone, Allen; Godfrey, Paul (28 February 2025). "Trump breaks off mineral talks with Ukraine, calls Zelenskyy 'disrespectful' in shouting match". United Press International. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  7. ^ Kramer, Andrew E.; Varenikova, Maria; Méheut, Constant (28 February 2025). "The U.S.-Ukraine Mineral Deal Is Now In Peril: What We Know". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d Livingstone, Helen; Ferguson, Donna; Krupa, Jakub; Lowe, Yohannes; Livingstone (now), Helen; Lowe (earlier), Yohannes (3 March 2025). "Zelenskyy says minerals deal is ready to be signed as he seeks to move conversation on from White House spat". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  9. ^ a b Swan, Jonathan (4 March 2025). "The first real news in the speech: Trump sends a conciliatory message to Ukraine's President Zelensky, days after trashing him and freezing U.S. aid to Ukraine. Trump says he received a letter today from Zelensky saying he is ready to come to the negotiating table and sign the minerals deal". New York Times. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  10. ^ Briancon, Pierre (26 February 2025). "Ukraine may yet get better of Trump on mining deal". Reuters. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  11. ^ a b c Abdurasulov, Abdujalil; Plummer, Robert (26 February 2025). "What minerals does Ukraine have and what are they used for?". BBC. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  12. ^ a b c Fornusek, Martin (16 October 2024). "Zelensky unveils Ukraine's victory plan, says it's doable but 'depends on our partners'". The Kyiv Independent. Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  13. ^ a b Fornusek, Martin (27 February 2025). "France has led talks on Ukraine's minerals since October 2024, French minister says". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  14. ^ Kottasová, Ivana (26 February 2025). "What we do and don't know about Trump's 'very big deal' on Ukraine's mineral resources". CNN. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  15. ^ Miller, Zake (3 February 2025). "Trump says he wants Ukraine's rare earth elements as a condition of further support". AP News. Archived from the original on 22 February 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2025. We're looking to do a deal with Ukraine where they're going to secure what we're giving them with their rare earth and other things.
  16. ^ Ricard, Philippe; Smolar, Piotr (25 February 2025). "Trump-Macron meeting illustrates growing distance between allies". Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  17. ^ a b Ukraine–United States Mineral Resources Agreement (PDF), 25 February 2025, archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2025 – via CNN
  18. ^ a b Dutta, Prasanta Kumar; Hart, Sam; McClure, Jon; Rao, Anurag; Zafra, Mariano (26 February 2025). "Ukraine's mineral deal with the US". Reuters. Retrieved 2 March 2025. jointly developing Ukraine's natural resources including rare earths, critical minerals, oil and gas
  19. ^ Hrazhdan, Olena (26 February 2025). "US-Ukraine Minerals Deal: US Gets 50% of Heavy Industry Revenues, Must Invest in Ukraine's Security, Recovery". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  20. ^ a b Fornusek, Mark (27 February 2025). "France has led talks on Ukraine's minerals since October 2024, French minister says". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  21. ^ Butenko, Victoria; Walsh, Nick Paton; Tuysuz (26 February 2025). "US and Ukraine agree to terms on natural resources and reconstruction deal, Ukrainian official says". CNN. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  22. ^ a b c Weissert, Will; Miller, Zeke; Madhani, Aamer (1 March 2025). "Zelenskyy leaves White House without signing minerals deal after Oval Office blowup". AP News. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  23. ^ "Zelensky says Ukraine ready to sign minerals deal with United States". France 24. 3 March 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  24. ^ Hodunova, Kateryna (28 March 2025). "Starmer invites Zelensky, other leaders to summit on Ukraine, security on March 2". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  25. ^ Le Couteur, Mike (2 March 2025). "U.S. must be engaged in Ukraine security: Canadian envoy". CTV News. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  26. ^ a b Le Monde (2 March 2025). "Ukraine summit 'once in a generation' moment for European security, says Starmer". Associated Press. Retrieved 2 March 2025 – via Le Monde.
  27. ^ a b "Ukraine: Europe plans for 'massive surge' in defense – DW – 03/03/2025". Deutsche Welle. London, UK. 2 March 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
Quelle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine%E2%80%93United_States_Mineral_Resources_Agreement