The United States and Ukraine have finalized a deal concerning natural resources and reconstruction, marking a significant step in their bilateral relations. According to a Ukrainian official, the agreement was reached after removing contentious elements, clarifying its contribution to Ukraine’s security and peace. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to visit Washington, potentially by Friday (February 28), to sign the agreement and discuss peace negotiations with President Donald Trump.
The deal establishes a fund where Ukraine will allocate 50% of the proceeds from state-owned natural resource extraction to finance national infrastructure projects. This new draft, dated February 24, does not include previous U.S. demands for rights to hundreds of billions in potential revenue. Instead, it focuses on using the resource revenues for Ukraine’s security and reconstruction.
The agreement does not include American security guarantees for Ukraine, a point Kyiv had hoped to secure. However, it is seen as part of a broader framework for cooperation between the two nations.
The accord is expected to unlock a long-term partnership between Ukraine and the U.S., despite not containing initial U.S. demands for a $500 billion share of Ukraine’s natural resources revenue. President Trump views the minerals transaction as a way to recoup the billions of dollars the U.S. has provided to Ukraine in military and financial aid during its conflict with Russia.
While the agreement is a political step towards using resource revenues for Ukraine’s security and reconstruction, it does not provide a commitment from Washington for security guarantees following any ceasefire with Russia.
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