The signing of a long-awaited minerals deal between the U.S. and Ukraine has come after months of tense negotiations as Ukraine worked on resetting its tumultuous relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The deal, inked April 30, creates an investment fund and grants the United States special access to new projects developing Ukraine’s natural resources, such as oil and gas, lithium, graphite, and rare earth elements.
Trump, who has been looking to secure a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow, had been pushing Ukraine to sign the agreement, arguing that the U.S. should benefit more from its assistance to Ukraine. The country has been heavily reliant on U.S. aid since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
To the relief of many in Ukraine, the final deal avoids many elements present in earlier drafts viewed by experts as exploiting Ukraine.
“We don’t see very…
