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The Trump administration has proposed to Ukraine that the United States receive a 50% stake in the nation’s rare earth minerals and has indicated a willingness to deploy American troops to safeguard them if a deal with Russia is reached to conclude the war, according to four U.S. officials....Don’t Miss Out! CLICK HERE TO KEEP READING..>>
Instead of providing direct payment for the minerals, this ownership agreement is envisioned as a means for Ukraine to compensate the U.S. for the billions of dollars in military aid and support it has extended to Kyiv since the onset of the war in February 2022, as reported by two of the officials.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent introduced the drafted proposal allowing U.S. ownership of half of Ukraine’s rare earth minerals to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during their meeting in Kyiv on Wednesday, as detailed by eight U.S. officials informed about the discussions.
Following the meeting, Bessent stated that the draft agreement on U.S.-Ukraine rare earth minerals was aligned with the president’s objectives, although he did not disclose specific details of the administration’s proposal.
Zelenskyy chose not to endorse the document when it was presented by Bessent during their meeting, citing the need to review it and seek input from others, as revealed by the eight U.S. officials who were briefed.
At that time, the Ukrainian leader remarked that he and his team “will do everything to review all details of the document” prior to his arrival in Munich, where he subsequently met with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with U.S. lawmakers on the sidelines of a global security conference.
The Ukrainian Embassy in Washington and a representative for the White House National Security Council did not immediately respond to requests for comments on Friday.
Speaking at the security conference on Friday, Zelenskyy indicated that his legal team would review the document presented by Bessent in Kyiv, providing advice and potential amendments. He referred to this proposal as a memorandum between the U.S. and Ukraine, rather than a formal security agreement.
In recent months, President Donald Trump has shown an interest in negotiating a deal with Ukraine that would grant the U.S. extensive access to its rare earth minerals, which are essential for manufacturing a range of technological products.
In a recent interview with Fox News, Trump expressed his desire for the U.S. to acquire $500 billion worth of Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, asserting that Kyiv had “essentially agreed to do so.”
This month, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he perceives access to these minerals as a form of “security.”
“I want to secure rare earth materials. We’re investing hundreds of billions of dollars. They have excellent rare earth resources, and I want assurance on that, and they are willing to comply,” Trump stated.
According to three U.S. officials, many of Ukraine’s mineral reserves are situated in regions currently under the control of Russian forces.
Ukrainian officials have noted that Zelenskyy has consistently supported the concept of trading “critical resources” for ongoing U.S. aid, considering it part of the “Victory Plan” he proposed to Trump during a meeting last fall.
In an exclusive interview at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, Zelenskyy conveyed to NBC News’ “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker that it would be “very, very difficult” for Ukraine to endure without U.S. military assistance.
“In all challenging situations, there is a chance. However, we would have a low chance — a low chance to survive without the United States’ support. I believe it is critical,” Zelenskyy noted.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated this week that U.S. troops would not be dispatched to Ukraine as part of any security guarantees for the nation. The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Vance mentioned in an interview with the newspaper that deploying U.S. troops to Ukraine is “on the table” if Russia fails to negotiate a peace agreement in good faith.
Trump has frequently criticized the extent of American assistance to Ukraine, characterizing Zelenskyy at a previous campaign event as “the greatest salesman of all time.”
“Every time Zelenskyy visits the United States, he walks away with $100 billion,” Trump commented in September. “I think he’s the greatest salesman on Earth. But we’re entangled in that war unless I’m president.”
