The United States and Ukraine have agreed on the terms of a draft minerals deal, a key element in Kyiv’s efforts to secure Washington’s backing as President Donald Trump pushes for a swift resolution to the war with Russia, two sources familiar with the matter confirmed Tuesday.
Trump announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy plans to visit Washington on Friday to sign what he described as a “very big deal.” This follows a heated exchange of words between the two leaders last week.
As part of his push for peace, Trump reiterated the need for a form of peacekeeping presence in Ukraine if an agreement to end the conflict is reached. However, Moscow, which launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago, has firmly opposed the deployment of NATO forces.
Trump’s urgency to conclude the war and his outreach to Moscow have raised concerns about potential U.S. concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin, which could weaken Ukraine’s security and shift the balance of power in Europe.
It remains unclear whether the minerals agreement, which Trump has framed as a repayment for billions in U.S. aid to Kyiv, includes any concrete security guarantees or commitments for further military assistance.
Last week, Trump falsely labeled Zelenskiy an unpopular “dictator” who must negotiate peace quickly or risk losing Ukraine. Zelenskiy fired back, accusing Trump of being trapped in a “disinformation bubble.”
Sources said both sides have approved the draft agreement and recommended its signing, which would grant the U.S. access to Ukraine’s vast mineral reserves.
Zelenskiy had previously rejected an earlier version of the deal, arguing that Washington’s request for access to $500 billion worth of Ukrainian resources was disproportionate to the aid Kyiv had received. He also criticized the agreement’s lack of security assurances.
When asked what Ukraine would receive in return for the minerals deal, Trump pointed to the $350 billion in aid and military support the U.S. has already provided.
On the continuation of American military assistance, Trump stated, “It could go forward for a while, maybe until we have a deal with Russia,” while once again predicting a swift end to the war without specifying how such an outcome would be achieved.
