Washington and Kyiv have reached an agreement on the terms of a draft minerals deal, a move seen as central to Ukraine’s efforts to secure continued U.S. support, according to sources familiar with the matter. The agreement, however, does not include any explicit security guarantees or commitments for continued U.S. weapons supplies.
President Donald Trump, who has been pushing for a rapid resolution to the ongoing war with Russia, announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is expected to visit Washington on Friday to sign what he called a “very big deal.” The planned meeting follows a tense exchange between the two leaders last week.
The minerals deal, which could grant the U.S. access to Ukraine’s extensive natural resources, has been framed by Trump as a form of repayment for the financial aid provided to Kyiv. Under its terms, a Reconstruction Investment Fund will be established, into which Ukraine will contribute 50% of revenues from its mineral wealth, hydrocarbons, and other extractable materials, until contributions reach $500 billion. The U.S. has committed to fostering a “stable and economically prosperous Ukraine.”
Trump’s approach to the war has raised concerns among European allies, as he seeks to negotiate directly with Moscow and has suggested the potential deployment of peacekeeping troops. While some European nations have expressed willingness to send forces, Russia has dismissed the idea of any NATO military presence in Ukraine. The Kremlin denied Trump’s claim that Moscow would accept such peacekeepers.
The agreement follows Kyiv’s rejection of an earlier draft, which sought extensive U.S. rights over Ukraine’s natural resources. Zelenskiy pushed back, arguing that Ukraine had received significantly less in aid than the value of resources being requested and that the deal lacked necessary security guarantees.
Trump defended the deal by highlighting what he described as the $350 billion in aid already provided by the U.S. along with military support. Analysts have suggested that the agreement is crucial in securing political backing from Trump and key Republican lawmakers.
The negotiations have left European officials scrambling, as Trump’s administration signals a shift away from prioritizing Europe’s security. The Ukrainian leader’s visit to Washington may provide an opportunity to reinforce his case for continued U.S. support amid growing uncertainty over American commitments.
Ukraine is known to possess 22 of the 34 minerals identified by the European Union as critical, including significant reserves of graphite, a key element in electric vehicle batteries and nuclear reactors. The agreement, if finalized, could reshape U.S.-Ukraine relations while influencing the broader geopolitical landscape.