Kiev revises mineral deal amid US pressure, land concessions
2 Min Read
The revised document is expected to be signed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, although no specific timeline has been set.
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A view of an ilmenite open pit mine in a canyon in the central region of Kirovohrad, Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Ukraine has submitted updated proposals to the United States regarding a minerals agreement aimed at granting US access to its rare earth resources, Fox News reports.
The revised document is expected to be signed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, although no specific timeline has been set.
The negotiations come as Ukraine seeks stronger security guarantees, following its rejection of an earlier US proposal that offered military aid in exchange for 50% ownership of mineral revenues.
This rejection was influenced by US President Donald Trump's demand for $500 billion in economic returns from Ukraine, covering not only minerals but also ports, infrastructure, oil, and gas, effectively placing Ukraine's economy under US control.
These terms were compared to post-war reparations, heightening concerns about economic sovereignty.
Read more: Trump to Ukraine: Pay $500 Billion or else
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz recently stated that Trump's frustrations with Zelensky have brought US-Ukraine relations to a breaking point, leading Trump to consider withdrawing American military support.
The revised deal may require Ukraine to cede Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine, prompting criticism that it amounts to a "mafia shakedown."
A Trump administration official told Axios on Friday, "It's a sh*t sandwich... Ukraine is going to have to eat it because [Trump] has made clear this is no longer our problem."
