Donald Trump has unveiled plans to send American workers to Ukraine to assist in mineral extraction, a move designed to deter Russian aggression by securing a U.S. presence in the region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet Trump in Washington on Friday to formalize an agreement granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s valuable deposits of rare earth minerals. Zelensky expressed hope that the “preliminary” deal would lead to more substantial agreements, though he clarified that no security guarantees from the U.S. have been secured.
Trump emphasized that the deal would allow American taxpayers to “get their money back” for the aid sent to Ukraine. Although specific terms have yet to be disclosed, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal revealed that an “investment fund” would be established to help reconstruct Ukraine. Additionally, Ukraine would contribute 50% of future revenues from state-owned resources to this fund, which would focus on projects within Ukraine. Zelensky noted that it’s “too early to talk about money,” though reports suggest that the U.S. would hold the maximum stake allowed by law.
Zelensky has pushed for firm security guarantees, but Trump stated that while American workers in Ukraine would provide “automatic security,” ultimate responsibility lies with Europe. Despite this, Shmyhal stated that Ukraine would not sign the deal without clarity on security arrangements, emphasizing the importance of security guarantees in achieving peace.
The deal, which would give the U.S. access to Ukraine’s extensive mineral resources—such as graphite, lithium, and rare earth metals—has been a point of tension. Ukraine’s mineral wealth is crucial to various industries, including electric vehicle batteries and defense technology. However, much of it remains in Russian-occupied territories, complicating matters further.
Russia has yet to respond to the deal specifics but downplayed the importance of Ukraine’s resources, asserting that Russia has “significantly more resources.”
