The United States and Ukraine have signed a significant agreement to share future profits from the sale of Ukraine’s mineral and energy resources, in a move aimed at securing long-term American support for Kyiv’s defence and recovery efforts.
The pact, sealed on Wednesday after months of intense discussions, outlines a joint investment fund and opens the door for global investors to take part in rebuilding Ukraine’s war-damaged economy. Ukrainian officials say the deal preserves national ownership of its natural assets while offering a 50:50 partnership with the US on future revenues.
Ukraine is home to substantial deposits of critical raw materials such as graphite, titanium, and lithium—key elements in clean energy, defence systems, and high-tech industries. By tying economic returns to strategic cooperation, the deal is designed to ease growing concerns in Washington over the vast sums already spent aiding Kyiv since Russia’s invasion in 2022.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the accord underscores a shared commitment to Ukraine’s long-term peace and prosperity. “It unlocks Ukraine’s growth potential,” he stated in a video message following the signing.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who led her country’s delegation in Washington, described the fund as a vital step in securing international capital. She emphasized that all resources would remain under Ukrainian ownership and that lawmakers in Kyiv still need to ratify the terms.
The agreement includes additional military aid, such as air defence systems, and marks a rare moment of strong rhetorical alignment between the Trump administration and Kyiv. The official language referenced “Russia’s full-scale invasion” and warned that no individual or entity that supported Moscow’s war efforts would benefit from Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction.
Although President Donald Trump had initially pushed for Ukraine to repay all US military assistance, the final terms fell short of those demands. Still, Trump has praised the outcome, telling NewsNation that he urged President Volodymyr Zelensky during their meeting at the Vatican to finalize the deal. “They have resources many countries can only dream of,” he said. “We need access to them.”
The deal had been postponed earlier this year following a heated White House meeting, during which Trump reportedly accused Zelensky of risking a broader conflict. Last-minute tensions also arose over transparency and governance structures for the reconstruction fund, with a US official saying Kyiv had attempted to renegotiate settled provisions.
Despite those hurdles, both sides signed technical documents last week, clearing the way for Wednesday’s formal announcement. The deal comes as talks between the US and Russia over a potential ceasefire continue without resolution, and amid heightened American efforts to reduce reliance on Chinese rare-earth imports.
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