The Trump administration is pursuing a streamlined minerals agreement with Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy rejected an initial proposal granting the U.S. 50% control over Ukraine’s critical minerals. The administration aims to establish a basic pact quickly while leaving detailed negotiations for later. The deal is seen as a potential precursor to additional U.S. military aid or involvement in peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.
Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, is currently in Kyiv to discuss revised terms. Zelenskiy confirmed a scheduled meeting and emphasized the need for constructive cooperation. While the White House has not commented, a Trump adviser stated that securing an agreement remains a priority.
Tensions between Trump and Zelenskiy have escalated, with Trump accusing the Ukrainian leader of being “a dictator without elections.” Zelenskiy, in turn, criticized Trump for believing Russian disinformation regarding the origins of the war. Despite the diplomatic friction, the Trump administration continues to push for mineral concessions worth $500 billion as a way to recoup U.S. military aid to Ukraine.
While Ukraine remains open to a deal, officials insist that the arrangement must not appear overly one-sided. Zelenskiy rejected the original U.S. proposal for focusing too much on American interests while lacking security guarantees for Kyiv. He reaffirmed Ukraine’s unwillingness to sell its resources outright, stating, “I can’t sell our country.”
Sources indicate that Ukraine may be willing to offer privileged access to the U.S. as recognition of Washington’s financial and military support. However, Kyiv also faces pressure to provide similar opportunities to other major supporters, including Canada, Britain, Japan, and the EU.
The U.S. is not known for using natural resource-for-aid agreements, though China has frequently employed such strategies. The Trump administration sees a simplified agreement as a way to bypass legal and logistical challenges, securing an initial commitment before negotiating finer details, such as revenue sharing.
Trump has expressed frustration over how much of U.S. aid has been in the form of grants, whereas European nations have provided loans that they expect to be repaid. He emphasized that a minerals deal would help ensure the U.S. gets something in return for its investment in Ukraine’s future.
Russia remains a major player in the battle for Ukraine’s natural resources. Russian forces have already seized about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including areas with valuable rare earth mineral deposits. With Russian troops positioned just miles from a major lithium deposit, the fate of resources in occupied territories remains uncertain.
Zelenskiy has called for discussions on how to handle minerals in regions controlled by Russia, questioning whether they would be ceded to Moscow and its allies, including China, Iran, and North Korea. The strategic importance of these resources adds another layer of complexity to negotiations between Washington and Kyiv.
The Trump administration remains focused on securing a deal as quickly as possible, ensuring that American interests are protected while maintaining leverage in its broader diplomatic strategy with Ukraine and Russia.
