US and Ukraine Sign Landmark Deal on Natural Resources and Reconstruction
The United States and Ukraine have signed a landmark economic partnership agreement that will grant Washington access to Ukraine’s critical minerals and natural resources, following weeks of tense negotiations.
The deal, finalized at the US Treasury Department on Wednesday, establishes a new United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund — a key condition set by President Donald Trump as a means to ensure returns on the financial support provided by the US to Kyiv over the years.
A Strategic Shift Amid Peace Efforts
The agreement arrives at a crucial time. President Trump continues to face challenges in fulfilling his pledge to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia — a central promise of his second-term agenda. Negotiations over the fund had been stalled earlier this year after a tense Oval Office meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but the talks were revived and recently brought to completion.
The breakthrough came following a meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy at the Vatican last weekend, where they attended the funeral of Pope Francis. However, progress nearly faltered again at the last minute, as the US raised concerns about Ukraine allegedly walking back previous commitments. Sources indicated that final sticking points included governance structures, transparency mechanisms, and tracking of funds.
Equal Partnership and Ukrainian Sovereignty
Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, signed the agreement on behalf of Kyiv and emphasized that Ukraine would retain full ownership and control over all resources within its territory and territorial waters.
“This is an equal partnership,” she said, noting that the fund will be structured on a 50/50 basis. Both countries will jointly select projects, and for the first 10 years, all profits generated by the fund will be reinvested into Ukraine.
The fund will support investment in the extraction and processing of critical minerals, oil, gas, and related infrastructure. Ukrainian state-owned companies, such as Ukrnafta and Energoatom, will remain under national control.
Svyrydenko also assured that the agreement contains no clauses related to Ukrainian debt obligations to the US. “This fund allows for co-operation and investment without undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty or its European integration ambitions,” she added.
A Strong Signal to Russia
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the agreement as a powerful step forward in Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction and a signal to Russia of the Trump administration’s commitment to a sovereign, secure Ukraine.
“This deal demonstrates our long-term dedication to helping Ukraine rebuild, and to showing Russia that the US stands firm on the principles of freedom and sovereignty,” Bessent said.
Further support from the US may also include defensive military systems and additional financial contributions to the fund.
What This Means
• Geopolitical Implications: The deal signals deeper economic and strategic alignment between the US and Ukraine.
• Post-War Reconstruction: It lays the groundwork for long-term recovery of Ukraine’s infrastructure and economy.
• Sovereignty Safeguards: Ukraine retains control over its resources, with mechanisms to ensure transparency and shared governance.
• Economic Opportunity: With global interest in critical minerals rising, the fund positions Ukraine as a key player in future energy and tech supply chains.
As tensions remain high in Eastern Europe, this agreement may be a pivotal moment in Ukraine’s recovery and its shifting economic and political alliances.
