Agreement on Metals and Minerals: The US and Ukraine cannot agree on one point
24 February 22:12
The draft agreement on rare earth metals between the United States and Ukraine does not mention any US military commitments. This is reported by Komersant ukrainskyi with reference to CNN.
The media outlet cites information it received from Ukrainian representatives on condition of anonymity. According to it, a revised draft of the Ukraine-U.S. resource agreement was presented in Washington and focuses on creating a fund for Ukraine’s reconstruction, leaving problematic technical details, including security guarantees, for further discussion.
The media source also reported that “the American side is very much opposed to the inclusion of security guarantees,” while official Kyiv hopes that they can be discussed during the upcoming meeting between Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump.
“Everything is ready on our side. We have finalized the project. We did our best to make the conditions acceptable. As a result, this is a framework agreement on how to create a fund for the restoration of Ukraine. There is a separate agreement on how it will work,” a Ukrainian representative told reporters on condition of anonymity.
The media outlet also wrote that the most problematic points have already been removed from the text of the agreement, but the American side is very much opposed to including security guarantees in the document.
Agreement between the US and Ukraine on rare earth metals: what is known about it
In February 2025, the United States and Ukraine are actively negotiating an agreement that would give the United States access to Ukraine’s critical minerals, such as rare earth elements, titanium, and lithium. This agreement is seen as a way to compensate for the significant military and financial assistance provided by the United States to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Key aspects of the proposed deal
US share in Ukrainian resources. The preliminary conditions suggest that the United States will receive up to 50% of the revenues from the extraction and sale of Ukrainian minerals and natural resources as compensation for the military support provided earlier. This includes not only rare earth elements, but also other resources such as uranium, oil and gas.
Amount of compensation. The amount of $500 billion that Ukraine should provide to the US in the form of revenues from its natural resources is being discussed. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disputes this figure, claiming that the real amount of aid received is about $100 billion, and insists that grants should not be considered a debt.
Ownership and control. According to the draft agreement, US companies must own a 50% stake in Ukrainian rare earth deposits. In addition, the United States will have the right to revenues even from those territories that Ukraine may liberate from Russian occupation in the future.
Lack of security guarantees. The current terms of the agreement do not provide Ukraine with any security guarantees or further military support from the United States. This is a concern for the Ukrainian side given the ongoing aggression by Russia.
Reaction and current status of negotiations
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed serious concerns about the proposed terms, stating that he will not sign an agreement that will burden future generations of Ukrainians with significant payments. He emphasized the need for clear security guarantees and fairer financial terms.
Despite the tensions in the negotiations, both sides continue to engage in dialogue. U.S. officials have expressed optimism that an agreement will be reached soon, pointing to a possible visit by President Zelenskyy to Washington to sign the agreement in the coming weeks.
European leaders are already expressing concern about possible concessions from Ukraine in exchange for financial aid, especially in the context of the lack of security guarantees. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are planning to visit Washington to discuss these issues and express support for Ukraine.
