Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected an offer by the Trump administration to control half of his country’s mineral resources in exchange for US support. The proposal, which was made through a closed-door meeting, would have granted the United States 50% interest in all of Ukraine’s mineral resources, including graphite, lithium, and uranium.
The deal was part of a larger offer by the Trump administration to provide security guarantees to Ukraine in exchange for access to its mineral resources. However, Zelensky rejected the proposal because it did not tie resource access to US security guarantees for Kyiv in its fight against Russia.
Ukrainian officials said that the proposal also included provisions for the United States to have priority in purchasing Ukrainian mineral exports and would reinvest a portion of the profit it would receive into Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction. However, they claimed that this deal reeked of colonialism and exploited smaller or weaker nations for commodities.
The Trump administration is continuing to negotiate with Ukraine, but tensions remain high over both continued US support and a potential end to the war. The Ukrainian president acknowledged that he had rejected a proposal from the Trump administration without specifying its terms.
Zelensky’s rejection highlights the deepening rift between Kyiv and Washington over security and business interests. European diplomats have expressed concerns about the deal, saying it smacks of colonialism. Ukraine has significant mineral deposits worth billions of dollars, but they are uncertain due to ongoing conflicts with Russia.
The Ukrainian president’s stance demonstrates his commitment to defending Ukraine’s sovereignty and interests. In contrast, the Trump administration’s approach could be seen as prioritizing economic interests over security concerns.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/15/world/europe/ukraine-minerals-us-deal-rejected.html