Zelenskyy outlines formula for subsoil deal: $30-50 billion for weapons package as security guarantee
10 April 11:14
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters that Ukraine has submitted a proposal to the United States to purchase a significant package of weapons worth between $30 and $50 billion. Ukraine is not asking to provide these weapons for free, but is ready to buy them. This was reported by Komersant ukrainskyi with reference to UNIAN.
“As for the additional package, we want and we are ready, and we have handed over to the American side a large package that we want to buy. We want to buy it in one form or another. This is our format, how we will pay for it. And we did not ask for the future package for free,”
– zelenskyy said, speaking about the likelihood of receiving a new package of American weapons.
The President considers the possibility of purchasing weapons as one of the elements of guaranteeing security for Ukraine. He explained the connection between the minerals deal and security:
“How to link our agreement [on minerals] with a security guarantee? It’s very simple. Give us a package, we will pay for it. We consider this particular package, which includes air defense and other relevant tools that we really need, to be a security guarantee. So it’s all tied together. And then, please, there is an agreement, we give you the money, so if you want to go to this fund, we will pay you directly. We don’t care,”
– the head of state added.
According to Zelenskyy, he discussed Ukraine’s needs for air defense systems with US President Donald Trump:
“I told him on the phone, give us at least ten. This is protection, this will help us after the war, this is a guarantee of security, that Ukraine is covered by air defense. There are many different formats and tools that we are ready for. We were ready to find 30 billion or 50 billion for the appropriate package.”
Thus, Zelenskyy has come up with a formula that can bring together all the recent irritants in relations with the United States: a $350 billion deal on subsoil that Trump demands and the security guarantees that Ukraine needs.
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The draft agreement between Ukraine and the United States: what is known
In February 2025, the United States and Ukraine reached a preliminary agreement aimed at jointly developing and managing Ukraine’s mineral resources. The agreement, known as the Bilateral Agreement Establishing Conditions for the Reconstruction Investment Fund, provides for the establishment of a joint investment fund to rebuild Ukraine’s war-ravaged economy. The main objective of the fund is to attract and reinvest revenues from Ukraine’s substantial mineral wealth to contribute to its recovery and long-term stability.
Key provisions of the draft agreement
Establishment of the Reconstruction Investment Fund. According to the text of the draft agreement published by The Kyiv Independent, the fund will be jointly owned and managed by the governments of the United States and Ukraine. The ownership and financial interests of each party will be defined in a subsequent agreement on the fund. The fund will be managed by representatives of both governments, and more detailed terms will be set out in a subsequent agreement.
Ukraine’s contribution. Ukraine commits to allocate 50% of its future revenues from the monetization of its natural resources, including minerals, hydrocarbons, oil, natural gas and other extractive infrastructure, to the Reconstruction Investment Fund. These contributions will continue until the amount reaches USD 500 billion. It is important to note that current sources of revenue that are already included in the general budget of Ukraine are not covered by this agreement.
The role of the United States. The U.S. government is committed to maintaining a long-term financial commitment aimed at developing a stable and economically prosperous Ukraine. This includes investments, financial instruments, and other tangible and intangible assets critical to Ukraine’s recovery. However, the agreement does not include specific security guarantees or continued arms transfers to Ukraine; these issues will be negotiated separately.
Provisions of the agreement as seen by MP Zheleznyak
MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak said that he had seen the text of the agreement and was horrified by it.
The MP described in detail the key points of the draft that cause concern:
- Management by 5 people, 3 of them from the United States with full veto power.
- We are already talking about all minerals. That is, there is oil and gas, both new and existing.
- All over the territory of Ukraine.
- We are talking about production by both state and private companies.
- The money is converted immediately into foreign currency.
- The fund’s money is withdrawn abroad. If for some reason something is not received on our part, we pay extra.
- The U.S. contribution is the assistance we have already received since 2022. And they can make a profit at their own discretion. And they receive the first (and then Ukraine) 4% of the “royalties” from the Fund.
- The agreement is valid indefinitely. It can be changed or terminated only with the permission of the Americans.
- “First night” rights for all new infrastructure projects and the right to veto the sale of resources to other countries.
- Nothing about security guarantees. Not even a hint.
Yaroslav Zheleznyak, MP
Meanwhile, the government assures that the agreementdoes not provide for the transfer of subsoil use rights or any property rights.
According to Olha Stefanishyna, Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, the framework agreement between Ukraine and the United States is not an international treaty in the classical sense, but rather a political agreement that defines the intentions of the parties to create a joint Investment Recovery Fund.
