Zelenskiy: Ukraine and Washington Work on “Fairer Minerals Deal”
On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced that a controversial proposal from
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration—offering the United States $500 billion in revenue from
Ukraine’s rare earth minerals as compensation for wartime aid—has been withdrawn. He noted that
efforts are underway with Washington to craft a “fairer” agreement.
Rejection of the Initial Proposal
Zelenskiy had previously rejected a U.S. draft deal involving the exploitation of Ukraine’s precious
minerals, such as lithium, critical for aerospace, defense, and nuclear energy industries. The proposal
lacked security guarantees and tied aid to the $500 billion figure.
Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv during a government officials’ forum marking the third
anniversary of Russia’s military assault on Ukraine, Zelenskiy said, “The $500 billion issue is no longer
on the table.”
Zelenskiy warned that treating aid as a debt to be repaid would open a “Pandora’s box,” setting a
precedent that could obligate Kyiv to compensate all its supporters. “We don’t recognize debts. That
won’t be part of the final agreement,” he stressed.
Security Guarantees at the Core
While no further details on the negotiations were shared, Ukraine continues to insist on security
guarantees to deter future Russian aggression. The absence of such assurances in the initial U.S.
proposal was a key sticking point.
What’s Next?
As Ukraine and the U.S. refine their agreement, the shift away from the $500 billion framework signals
a new chapter in bilateral relations.
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