Ukraine Announces Plan to Move Forward with U.S. Rare-Minerals Deal

What Happened?

Ukraine announced Wednesday it is ready to sign a long-awaited agreement that would give valuable rare mineral access to the U.S.

After weeks of intense negotiations, the Trump administration and Ukrainian leaders are on pace to realign with one another as allies.

Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s economy minister and deputy prime minister, reportedly traveled to Washington Wednesday to help finalize the deal.

The move is essential for Kyiv, in the hopes of ensuring continued access to future U.S. military aid.

'Truly, this is a strategic deal for the creation of an investment partner fund,' Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reportedly stated on Ukrainian television.

Shmyhal added that the deal provides an equal footing in a joint investment between the U.S. and Ukraine for 10 years.

Financial contributions to the fund would be made in cash, and only new U.S. military aid would count toward the American share, The Associated Press reports.

The current draft would also not conflict with Ukraine’s path toward European Union membership.

U.S. officials seek access to more than 20 raw materials, including some non-minerals such as oil and natural gas.

The U.S. Geological Survey has classed 22 of the 50 materials Ukraine deposits as critical.

Why it Matters

These movements come as the Trump administration grows impatient over the lack of progress between Russia and Ukraine to strike a peace deal.

As this minerals agreement comes back to the forefront, it could push for more effort from the U.S. to pressure Russia.

Russian President, Vladimir Putin, recently increased land demands that insist on taking control of four Ukrainian regions as part of any agreement to end the war in Kyiv.

U.S. officials visited Russia last week to persuade Putin to agree to a long-term ceasefire.

Putin remained firm on his territory requests and rejected Ukraine's proposal to extend a unilateral three-day ceasefire.

Russia announced a temporary ceasefire after Trump said he believed Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, was prepared to forfeit his claim to the Crimean Peninsula.

But Ukraine has now extended its rare and highly sought minerals to the U.S. as a measure for more support.

Some believe further negotiation will soon require direct contact from President Donald Trump with Russia's Putin face-to-face.

How it Affects You

According to a U.N. report, Ukrainian civilians have been killed or wounded in attacks every day this year.

In the first three months of this year, 2,641 civilian casualties have occurred in Ukraine.

Civilian casualties in Ukraine between April 1-24 were up 46% from the same weeks in 2024.

It's a grim reminder that war efforts have not slowed despite hopes of a permanent ceasefire.

Ukraine's renewed faith in its relationship behind U.S. backing may ensure that a U.S.-led ceasefire gets done and is honored.