What we know about the US-Ukraine minerals deal
ReutersVolodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine has agreed to the terms of a major deal to allow the United States to obtain deposits on its rare earth minerals.
Kiev hopes that the deal will provide financial benefits to the United States if the war with Russia reignites after a potential ceasefire – which will encourage the White House to protect Ukraine.
U.S. President Donald Trump said a deal would help U.S. taxpayers send aid to Ukraine to Ukraine throughout the war and would “fight against Russia.”
But Ukrainian President Zelensky said there was no consensus yet, but he hoped the agreement would “result further deals.”
What are the terms of this transaction?
Key details have not been made public, but on Wednesday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shyhal said that Ukraine and the United States have completed a version of the deal.
Shyhal said in his speech from Ukrainian TV that the preliminary agreement envisions a “investment fund” for Ukraine’s reconstruction.
The Prime Minister added that Kyiv and Washington will manage the fund under “equal terms.”
He said Ukraine will contribute 50% of the future gains from state-owned mineral resources, oil and gas, and the fund will then invest in projects in Ukraine itself.
The New York Times reported that the United States will have the largest amount of funds allowed under U.S. law, but not necessarily all.
Last week, the center of the rift between Trump and Zelensky was a mineral deal, with the Ukrainian president rejecting the initial demand for $50 billion (£3.95 billion) in revenue from rare minerals.
Media reports said this requirement has been removed.
A source in the Ukrainian government told the BBC, “The rules for this deal are much better for Ukraine now.”
Trump said on Tuesday that the United States has provided Ukraine with $30 billion (£23.7 billion) and $35 billion (£276 million) in aid to Ukraine, and he wants to “get back the money” through the deal.
BBC Verification Analysis No evidence was found For this number.
Does this transaction include security guarantees?
Zelensky has been pushing for a deal that includes corporate security assurance in the United States.
But on Wednesday, Ukrainian leaders said there was no such guarantee.
“I want to sentence Ukraine to a sentence for security assurance, which is important,” he said.
Zelensky asked, the BBC asked if he was ready to leave the agreement and if Trump did not provide the guarantee he wanted, I wanted to find a NATO road or something like that.
“If we don’t have security guarantees, we will not cease fire, nothing, nothing.”
Nevertheless, Ukrainian Prime Minister Shmyhal said on Wednesday that the United States supports “Ukraine’s efforts to establish security assurances for lasting peace.”
He said Ukraine would not sign a deal until Zelensky and Trump “agreed to security assurance” and decided how to “connect” the preliminary agreement with the U.S. security guarantee.
Yuri Sak, an advisor to Ukraine’s strategic industry department, told the BBC earlier Wednesday: “If the Russians can sign any transaction about critical minerals one month after signing the deal is not available. Meaning.”
He said the discussion on continuing safety assurance was held.
Meanwhile, Olha Stefanishyna, the deputy prime minister who led the negotiations, told the Financial Times that the deal was a “larger part.”
Last year, Zelensky first proposed the prospect of a mineral deal as a way to provide the United States with reasons to continue supporting Ukraine.
Trump said on Tuesday that Ukraine will gain “combat rights” in exchange for minerals, although he has not confirmed that no agreement has been reached.
He suggested that the United States will continue to provide equipment and ammunition to Ukraine “until we reach an agreement with Russia.”
He also said that after any peace agreement, Ukraine needs “some form of peacekeeping” that needs to be “acceptable to everyone”.
When will the transaction be signed?
Shmyhal said the United States and Ukraine have prepared a final version of the agreement, which the Ukrainian government will authorize on Wednesday to sign.
Trump said he hopes Zelensky visits Washington on Friday.
Zelensky said he would ask whether the United States would continue to support Ukraine and he would be “very direct” with Trump.
What minerals are there in Ukraine?
Kyiv estimates that about 5% of the world’s “critical raw materials” are in Ukraine.
This includes a graphite reserve of about 19m tons, and the Ukrainian Geological Survey said the country has become one of the countries that supplies minerals. Graphite is used to make batteries for electric vehicles.
Ukraine also has a large number of titanium, lithium and rare earth metals, a set of 17 elements used to produce weapons, wind turbines, electronics and other products that are crucial to the modern world.
How did Russia react?
Vladimir Putin has not yet resolved reports of the terms of the agreement reached between the United States and Ukraine.
But on Monday night, he told state TV that he was preparing to “provide” resources for U.S. partners in joint projects, including mining in Russia’s “new territory” – referring to what Russia has occupied since the eastern part of Russia part. Three years ago.
Putin said a potential U.S.-Ukrainian deal for rare minerals is not a problem, and Russia “no doubt, I want to emphasize that there are much more resources than Ukraine”.
He added: “As for the new territory, the situation is the same. We are ready to attract foreign partners into what is called new, into our historic territory, which returns to the Russian Federation.”
