The United States and Ukraine have signed a significant strategic agreement granting Washington access to Ukraine’s vast mineral resources, in a move aimed at securing continued American support for Kyiv amid concerns over shifting US foreign policy priorities.
The agreement, formally titled the United States–Ukraine Reinvestment Fund, was finalised on Wednesday following months of negotiations. While specific terms have not been released, the accord is expected to provide the United States with access to rare earth minerals critical to high-tech industries and defence capabilities.
In return, Ukraine hopes to benefit from sustained investment and security backing as it continues its war effort against Russia.
“The agreement sends a clear message to Moscow that the Trump administration is committed to a long-term peace process centred on a free, sovereign and prosperous Ukraine,” said US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
He added that President Donald Trump viewed the partnership as a demonstration of mutual commitment between the American and Ukrainian people, focused on peace, stability and reconstruction.
Strategic context
The deal comes at a pivotal moment in the three-year conflict, with President Trump reportedly growing increasingly impatient with both Ukrainian and Russian leadership. An earlier version of the agreement was close to being signed two months ago, but collapsed following a tense Oval Office meeting between President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Mr Trump has frequently criticised Mr Zelensky’s handling of the war, suggesting he lacks the leverage to end the fighting and has prolonged the bloodshed by refusing to cede Crimea. However, the US president has also recently rebuked Russian President Vladimir Putin for escalating attacks, describing a wave of missile strikes on Kyiv as “very bad timing” that undermines peace efforts.
In an interview on NewsNation, Mr Trump remarked that the deal “in theory” means the US would receive more in return than it has given. “I wanted to be protected,” he said. “I didn’t want to be seen as foolish by not getting a return on our investment.”
Ukrainian response
The agreement has been welcomed by Ukrainian leaders as a vital mechanism for ensuring long-term Western engagement.
“This is a truly strategic agreement for the creation of a joint investment fund,” said Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. “It is an equal and constructive international partnership focused on Ukraine’s recovery and development.”
Ukraine’s Economy Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, attended the signing and posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter): “Together with the United States, we are creating a fund that will attract global investment into Ukraine.”
Economic and political implications
Analysts believe the deal reflects an evolving American approach to international aid under President Trump, prioritising economic reciprocity and resource security alongside strategic commitments.
Though full details remain undisclosed, the agreement is expected to involve shared investment in Ukraine’s critical mineral sectors, such as lithium, titanium, and rare earth elements, materials vital to clean energy, aerospace and electronics.
While some observers have raised concerns about the optics of brokering a resource-focused deal during an ongoing conflict, proponents argue that such partnerships are essential to Ukraine’s long-term economic resilience and its ability to rebuild after the war.
As both nations navigate a shifting geopolitical landscape and prepare for potential diplomatic engagement with Russia, the agreement signals a pragmatic, if transactional, approach to maintaining bilateral cooperation.
