U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the United States is \"pretty close\" to finalizing an agreement with Ukraine regarding the sharing of revenue from Ukraine's rare earth minerals and other natural resources. This development is part of ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict in the region.
Despite the optimistic outlook from the U.S. side, sources suggest that the proposed deal may not align with the expectations of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine. A source familiar with the negotiations described the offer as \"a strange move to take from a country that is a victim of war,\" highlighting concerns over the financial burden it could impose on Ukraine's defense efforts.
Ukrainian state broadcaster Suspline reported that negotiations continued into the night but faced delays over the critical issue of security guarantees. Zelenskyy has previously rejected demands from the Trump administration for $500 billion in mineral wealth to repay three years of U.S. aid, pointing out the absence of specific security commitments in the proposed terms.
The draft agreement proposes that the United States receive 50 percent of Ukraine's critical minerals, including graphite, uranium, titanium, and lithium—an essential component for electric vehicle batteries. However, Ukrainian officials are seeking amendments to the draft, emphasizing the need for reciprocity in obligations for both nations.
In parallel, Trump aides, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, engaged in preliminary discussions with senior advisers to Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia. These talks aim to explore avenues to end the ongoing conflict but faced criticism from Zelenskyy for excluding Ukraine and its European allies from the negotiation process.
Experts note that rare earth elements are vital for various technologies, and a potential deal with Ukraine could help the U.S. reduce its dependency on the Chinese mainland, which currently dominates the global supply chain for these critical minerals. Professor Cui Zheng from Liaoning University highlighted that this move could alleviate the financial burden on the United States while securing essential materials for its defense and high-tech industries.
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Trump says close to minerals deal with Ukraine. Will Zelenskyy accept?
cgtn.com
