Washington, D.C. – In a significant development, President Donald Trump declared on March 20 that the United States is poised to sign a minerals and natural resources deal with Ukraine "very shortly." This announcement came during a White House event where Trump emphasized his administration’s efforts to boost the production of critical minerals essential for various high-tech industries. Source

Following a directive to enhance domestic production, Trump stated, "We’re doing very well with regard to Ukraine and Russia. And one of the things we are doing is signing a deal very shortly with respect to rare earths with Ukraine." He highlighted the critical nature of minerals such as lithium and titanium, which are vital for technology and defense sectors. The forthcoming agreement aims to provide the U.S. access to Ukraine's extensive mineral resources, which encompass approximately 5% of global deposits, although these resources have yet to be commercially exploited. Source

The anticipated agreement follows Trump's discussions with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week. While talks had fallen short of achieving a full ceasefire, progress has been made toward ending the ongoing conflict. Trump expressed hope that a successful peace deal could alleviate the human toll of the war, stating, "Hopefully we’d save thousands of people a week from dying." Source

Despite a previous breakdown in negotiations, Trump remains optimistic about finalizing the minerals deal. The arrangement would reportedly include provisions for Ukraine to contribute 50% of revenues from newly developed mineral assets into a joint reconstruction fund managed by both nations. However, earlier discussions saw resistance from Zelenskyy, who emphasized the need for explicit security guarantees before agreeing to grant U.S. access to these vital resources. Source

The outlook for this U.S.-Ukraine partnership is intertwined with ongoing peace efforts as European Union leaders continue to express support for Kyiv while reserving decisions on additional military assistance. Discussions about further financial aid, such as a 5 billion euro package requested by Zelenskyy, are also on the table for future consideration as negotiations continue. Source