The Trump administration is considering a simplified minerals agreement with Ukraine, aiming to secure a quick deal before negotiating detailed terms, according to sources familiar with the matter.
This move follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's rejection of a previous U.S. proposal that sought to grant Washington a 50% stake in Ukraine’s critical mineral reserves.
The rejected agreement would have given the U.S. access to key resources such as graphite, uranium, titanium, and lithium—essential for industries including electric vehicle production. Zelenskiy deemed the proposal overly focused on American interests and lacking necessary security guarantees for Ukraine. “I can't sell our country,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
Strategic and political stakes
Trump’s push for a minerals deal comes as he weighs further military support for Kyiv and potential efforts to mediate peace talks with Russia in the ongoing three-year war. The urgency stems from Trump’s desire to demonstrate to the American public that U.S. aid to Ukraine is yielding financial returns. According to sources, he is pressing for mineral concessions valued at $500 billion as a form of compensation for past U.S. military assistance.
Keith Kellogg, Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, is in Kyiv this week to discuss a revised proposal. Zelenskiy confirmed he would meet Kellogg on Thursday, emphasizing that “cooperation with America must be constructive.”
Despite ongoing negotiations, tensions between the two leaders have escalated. Trump labeled Zelenskiy “a dictator without elections” following the Ukrainian leader’s remarks that Trump was influenced by Russian disinformation. The strained relationship raises questions about the feasibility of a long-term minerals deal.
Challenges and alternative approaches
Sources suggest that Trump’s team may now pursue a phased approach, securing an initial agreement while deferring complex details such as ownership shares and revenue distribution. This strategy could circumvent legal and logistical challenges and allow time for further negotiations.
Experts note that while the U.S. has not historically engaged in resource-for-aid swaps, China has effectively used similar strategies to secure access to critical minerals worldwide. “The U.S. has not historically used natural resource-for-aid swaps, but it's a tried and tested tool in China's minerals playbook,” said Gracelin Baskaran, director of the Critical Minerals Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Ukraine, meanwhile, remains open to a revised deal that acknowledges U.S. investments while appearing less exploitative than the original proposal. Tyson Barker, former U.S. deputy special envoy for Ukraine’s economic recovery, noted that Kyiv is willing to provide the U.S. with privileged access to mineral resources, recognizing America’s substantial financial support during the war.
However, Ukraine may also need to consider offering similar terms to other key allies, including Canada, the UK, Japan, and the European Union. Barker warned that any agreement could be complicated by Russia’s control over parts of Ukraine rich in critical minerals, including lithium deposits. The fate of these resources remains uncertain as the war continues.
Belarus has released 123 prisoners, including opposition leader Maria Kalesnikava and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, following an agreeme...
Migration isn’t driven only by politics or social issues. In the era of climate change, the environment itself is becoming a reason to leave home....
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated his offer to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Ankara, at his meeting with Russian President Vladi...
Two Syrian security personnel and several U.S. troops were injured on Saturday after a joint patrol came under gunfire near the city of Palmyra in cen...
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday responded to the release of new photographs from the estate of Jeffrey Epstein. Trump said he had not seen the p...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 12th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Ukraine has presented the U.S. with a revised 20-point framework to end the war with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday, adding that the issue of ceding territory remains a major sticking point in negotiations.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday that he still hopes the U.S. administration will reconsider its decision to withdraw from the organisation next month, warning that its exit would be a loss for the world.
A new proposal in the U.S. Congress aims to remove decades-old restrictions on American assistance to Azerbaijan, reopening a sensitive debate that has shaped Washington’s role in the region for more than thirty years.
Japan has lifted a tsunami advisory issued after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the country's northeastern region on Friday (12 December), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The JMA had earlier put the earthquake's preliminary magnitude at 6.7.
The Oligarch’s Design is an investigative documentary exploring how financial power, political influence and carefully constructed narratives can shape conflict and public perception.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
The resignation of Bulgaria's government on Thursday (11 December) puts an end to an increasingly unpopular coalition but is likely to usher in a period of prolonged political instability on the eve of the Black Sea nation's entry into the euro zone.
An extratropical cyclone has caused widespread disruption across Brazil’s São Paulo state, with powerful winds toppling trees and power lines, blocking streets and leaving large parts of the region without electricity.
Belarus has released 123 prisoners, including opposition leader Maria Kalesnikava and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, following an agreement with the United States to ease sanctions on the country’s potash exports.
Migration isn’t driven only by politics or social issues. In the era of climate change, the environment itself is becoming a reason to leave home.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated his offer to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Ankara, at his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The talks took place on the sidelines of the international Forum for Peace and Trust in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on Friday (12 December).
Two Syrian security personnel and several U.S. troops were injured on Saturday after a joint patrol came under gunfire near the city of Palmyra in central Syria, local media reported.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday responded to the release of new photographs from the estate of Jeffrey Epstein. Trump said he had not seen the photos but downplayed their significance, stating that the images were “no big deal.”
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment