Trump Negotiates A 'Very Big Deal' For Ukraine's Mineral Wealth, But Lacks Long-Term Security Guarantees: Report

by Stjepan Kalinic Benzinga Staff Writer

Zinger Key Points

Zelenskyy is expected to sign a revised agreement on Friday that doesn't include security guarantees.
The exact structure of the newly created fund is yet unknown, pending a vote in Ukraine's parliament.
Every week, our Whisper Index uncovers five overlooked stocks with big breakout potential. Get the latest picks today before they gain traction.

President Donald Trump has finalized the terms of the mineral resources deal with Ukraine. After prolonged negotiations, the deal reportedly includes better conditions for the war-ridden country, albeit without the much-desired security guarantees.

The Financial Times and The Guardian reported the news, citing senior officials familiar with the matter. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Washington on Friday to formalize the deal.

"I hear that he [Zelenskyy] is coming on Friday," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday. "Certainly, it's OK with me if he'd like to. And he would like to sign it together with me. And I understand that's a big deal, a very big deal," Trump said.

Initially, Zelensky delayed signing the deal, rejecting Trump's original proposal that included a demand for $500 billion worth of mineral resources as repayment for military aid. That condition has since been dropped, with the revised agreement allowing Ukraine to retain a 50% stake in a newly created investment fund, which will develop and commercialize the country's mineral wealth.

Despite removing the financial repayment requirement, the deal does not include explicit long-term security guarantees for Ukraine—one of Kyiv's key demands. Instead, Trump has vaguely alluded to a "general security" framework for Ukraine in the future.

"We'll be looking … general security for Ukraine later on. I don't think that's going to be a problem. There are a lot of people that want to do it, and I spoke with Russia about it. They didn't seem to have a problem with it," he said.

Ukraine holds large deposits of lithium, graphite, titanium, and some rare earth elements. These materials are essential for various industries, including defense, aerospace, renewable energy, and high-tech manufacturing.

Lithium and graphite are particularly crucial for battery production in electric vehicles, while titanium – which Ukraine commercially produced before the conflict, is vital for aerospace engineering.

Under the terms of the agreement, revenues generated from the joint development of Ukraine's mineral resources will be channeled into domestic infrastructure and economic recovery projects.

However, the framework still leaves several unresolved issues, including the exact structure of the investment fund and the legal jurisdiction governing U.S. involvement. Ukraine's parliament is expected to debate and vote on the agreement following Zelenskyy's return from Washington.

Read Next: