There was a sense of cautious optimism in Kyiv on Thursday morning as Ukrainians reacted to news that a long-awaited natural resources agreement with the United States had finally been signed. While the details of the minerals deal are still being digested, many have already noted that the key terms of the agreement are now far more favorable for Ukraine than earlier drafts, which some Ukrainian critics had likened to “colonial” exploitation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy first raised the prospect of a minerals-sharing agreement between Ukraine and the United States in late 2024 as he sought to engage with Donald Trump in the run-up to America’s presidential vote. The idea gained further momentum following Trump’s election victory, but a planned signing ceremony was abandoned in late February following a disastrous Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy.
When talks resumed in early spring, leaked details indicated a hardening of the American position, with US officials insisting on extensive control over Ukrainian assets and seeking to use revenues to repay aid provided to Ukraine during the first three years of Russia’s full-scale invasion. However, following weeks of exhaustive negotiations, the most contentious conditions have now been removed, resulting in a more forward-looking document that sets the stage for a potential deepening in the strategic partnership between Kyiv and Washington.
Voice of Ukraine 