UKRAINE has agreed to a minerals deal with the US, Ukrainian security officials have said. Kyiv hopes the move will improve relations with the Trump administration and bolster long-term security ties. The agreement, which centres on the joint development of Ukraine’s vast mineral resources — including oil and gas — comes after Washington dropped its demand for a $500 billion share of potential revenues.
![[Volodymyr Zelensky at a press conference.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-russias-leadership-liars-russian-973292488_bddf62.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
“The minerals agreement is only part of the picture. We have heard multiple times from the US administration that it’s part of a bigger picture,” Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Olha Stefanishyna told the FT on Tuesday. The original terms, which President Donald Trump framed as a way for Ukraine to repay the US for military and financial aid since Russia’s 2022 invasion, were met with fierce backlash from Kyiv and European allies.
![[Donald Trump shaking hands with Volodymyr Zelensky at Notre-Dame Cathedral.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2024-around-50-heads-state-955442440.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
After President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected the initial draft, it was reportedly when Trump called him a “dictator” and suggested Ukraine bore responsibility for starting the war. The final version, dated February 24 and seen by the FT, establishes a fund into which Ukraine will contribute 50% of proceeds from future monetisation of state-owned mineral resources.
![[President Donald Trump speaking at a press conference.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/us-president-donald-trump-speaks-974860644.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
However, it excludes existing revenue streams from key producers like Naftogaz and Ukrnafta. Crucially, it leaves unresolved details on the US stake in the fund and terms of joint ownership, which will be determined in future negotiations. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online.
