Agreement between Ukraine and the United States on mineral resources: Zelensky made a decision
14 February 21:37
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused to sign a document transferring 50% of Ukraine’s future mineral resources to Washington. Washington Post political commentator Josh Rogin wrote about this on February 14 on his page on the social network X, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
“Several lawmakers here in Munich told me that a US Congressional delegation presented Zelenskiy with a paper they wanted him to sign that would give the US rights to 50% of Ukraine’s future mineral reserves. Zelensky politely refused to sign it,” Rogin wrote on social media.
It should be noted that there are no official comments from the Ukrainian side on the “agreement” on mineral resources between the US and Ukraine at this time.
“Agreement” on mineral resources and minerals between Ukraine and the United States: what you need to know
In February 2025, Ukraine and the United States intensified negotiations on cooperation in the field of minerals and metals. The goal is to attract American investment in the Ukrainian mining sector in exchange for security guarantees from the United States.
What preceded it
on February 12, 2025, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he had received a draft agreement from the United States on the use of Ukrainian rare earth metals. He expressed hope that this document would be signed during or before the Munich Security Conference.
According to sources, the proposed agreement would give the US rights to 50% of Ukraine’s future mineral reserves. However, Zelenskyy politely refused to sign it, considering the terms unilateral and unfavorable for Ukraine.
Current negotiations and positions of the parties
on February 14, 2025, Ukraine submitted a revised draft agreement on cooperation in the field of mineral resources to the United States. The American side requested time until 5 p.m. to evaluate it. The meeting between Zelenskyy and US Vice President J.D. Vance, originally scheduled for the morning, was postponed to a later date at the request of the US.
Official Kyiv is ready to open up its vast mineral resources to American investment, seeking in return security guarantees from the US as part of a potential peace deal with Russia. US President Donald Trump has previously stated that support for Ukraine, including continued military assistance, will depend on securing $500 billion worth of rare earth minerals.
Keith Kellogg, the US Special Envoy for Russia and Ukraine, noted that the US access to Ukraine’s mineral resources is part of the country’s security guarantees.
Ukraine’s minerals and their importance
Ukraine has significant reserves of critical minerals, including titanium, lithium, and rare earth elements. The country has the largest titanium reserves in Europe, capable of satisfying the needs of the US and EU for titanium metal for more than 25 years. These resources are key for the aerospace, defense, and chemical industries.
However, about 40% of Ukraine’s metal mineral resources are located in the territories temporarily occupied by Russia, which limits their accessibility.
