US, Ukraine sign deal on rare earth mineral access

The United States and Ukraine have finalised an agreement granting the US preferential access to Ukraine’s rare earth mineral reserves, marking a significant step in deepening economic cooperation between the two nations.

The deal, signed after weeks of negotiations, also establishes the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund. It reflects the Trump administration’s broader effort to link American support to Ukraine with tangible strategic and economic benefits.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that US aid – valued at $300 billion since Russia’s 2022 invasion – should come with returns. In this case, the US secured involvement in Ukraine’s rare earth sector, a critical move as Washington seeks to reduce reliance on Chinese-dominated global supply chains.

According to officials, the agreement will allow American companies to participate in mineral development projects while Ukraine retains control over extraction and ownership of its natural resources. These resources include rare earth elements essential for defence, technology, and clean energy industries.

“This partnership positions our two countries to invest together to accelerate Ukraine’s economic recovery,” the US Treasury stated, emphasizing that no Russian-linked individuals or entities will benefit from reconstruction efforts.

Ukrainian officials see the deal as both an economic opportunity and a political signal of long-term US commitment, while the US views it as aligning reconstruction with strategic resource access.

(With inputs from Syndicated feed)