Yet another late snag

Trump-Ukraine minerals deal hits yet another late snag

U.S. president has previously described such a pact as reimbursement for billions in American aid sent to help Kyiv against Russia’s full-scale invasion.

By Seb Starcevic and Veronika Melkozerova

Ukraine and the United States planned to sign a long-awaited minerals deal Wednesday — before yet another last-minute obstacle threatened to scupper the plan.

As Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko traveled to Washington on Wednesday to ink the agreement, the American side demanded Kyiv sign not only the main economic pact, but also two technical side-deals, a senior official familiar with the matter told POLITICO after being granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive topic.

Kyiv and Washington have been negotiating for months on an agreement, which would see the U.S. develop and profit from Ukraine’s vast natural resources, including critical elements and minerals vital to manufacturing modern technologies, and contribute to a reconstruction fund for Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump has previously described such a deal as reimbursement for the billions in American aid funneled to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.

The terms of the deal include assurances that Ukraine will not need to pay back prior aid as debt and that the U.S. will contribute to a reconstruction fund.

Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Zhelezhyak said that the agreement’s terms have improved.

“The agreement will be for a fixed term with the right of both parties to make changes in the future,” Zheleznyak said, citing his own sources. The sides have not yet agreed on its final terms, he said.

If the sides agree, they will sign the deal, then the Ukrainian parliament will have to ratify it and change the legislation for it to be properly implemented, the MP said.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on national television that the deal was expected to be signed in the next 24 hours.

“Yes, we were planning to sign the deal today,” the senior official said. “The United States also agreed to contribute to the reconstruction fund. For example, if the U.S. gives Ukraine air defense systems, their money […] can be considered as a contribution to the fund.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously refused to sign two draft agreements proposed by Trump’s administration, saying the terms — which included Kyiv giving up minerals, oil and gas revenues, plus earnings from ports and other infrastructure to the tune of $500 billion — were too harsh.

“I will not sign what 10 generations of Ukrainians will have to pay back,” Zelenskyy insisted in February.

Trump and Zelenskyy were set to sign a deal in February before the discussions were spectacularly derailed by a heated Oval Office meeting between the two leaders.