U.S. Secures Preferential Access to Ukraine’s Natural Resources in Landmark Investment Agreement

The United States and Ukraine have signed an agreement over access to Ukraine's natural resources

The United States and Ukraine have finalized a landmark agreement granting the U.S. preferential access to Ukraine’s natural resource development in exchange for continued economic support, following months of political pressure from President Donald Trump. The deal focuses on strategic materials including aluminum, graphite, oil, and natural gas, and outlines the creation of a joint U.S.-Ukrainian reconstruction fund.

The agreement follows extensive negotiations amid shifting U.S. policy toward Ukraine, as the Trump administration transitions away from direct military aid and toward investment-based engagement. Under the agreement, the United States, or its designated entities, will receive prioritized—but not exclusive—access to new investment licenses and development permits in Ukraine. Existing contracts are excluded from the arrangement.

A central element of the deal is the establishment of a joint fund that will receive 50% of the profits and royalties from Ukraine’s newly issued resource extraction permits. Future U.S. military aid to Ukraine will be counted as contributions toward this fund. The deal is expected to support Ukraine’s economic recovery and infrastructure rebuilding while opening new markets for American investment and governance standards.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal had previously confirmed the imminent signing of the deal, stating that final details were being addressed. On Tuesday, Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, signed the agreement in Washington. In a post on X, she emphasized the potential for global investment: “Together with the United States, we are creating the fund that will attract global investment into our country. Its implementation allows both countries to expand their economic potential through equal co-operation and investment.”

Donald Trump

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the agreement as “historic,” noting that it demonstrates long-term U.S. commitment to a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine. He stated that the partnership would unlock Ukraine’s growth assets while aligning the country with American standards of transparency and governance. Bessent also confirmed that contributions to the fund may include military equipment, such as air defense systems.

While previous drafts of the deal included provisions covering Ukraine’s lucrative natural gas infrastructure and clauses granting the U.S. control over revenue disbursement, these points were absent from the finalized version. Ukrainian officials insisted that certain components—particularly those involving domestic parliamentary approval—could not be unilaterally signed.

Negotiations were tense at times, with reports indicating U.S. officials pushed hard for Svyrydenko to sign both framework and detailed agreements during her Washington visit. She was allegedly warned to “sign all agreements or go back home,” highlighting the urgency from the U.S. side.

The deal comes in the aftermath of contentious diplomatic encounters between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A widely criticized February meeting in the White House saw Trump and Vice President JD Vance chastise Zelenskyy for perceived ingratitude. However, the tone reportedly shifted during a later private meeting between the two leaders at the Vatican, where Zelenskyy urged Trump to adopt a tougher position against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Sources close to the talks revealed that Zelenskyy pressed Trump to return to a ceasefire-first approach to peace negotiations and emphasized that Putin remained unmovable without external pressure. Trump, in response, hinted at a shift in strategy and posted on Truth Social expressing skepticism about Putin’s intentions, questioning whether secondary sanctions might be necessary to force a resolution.

President Zelenskyy

Despite these developments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the idea of a swift peace agreement, stating that a settlement would be complex and would have to occur directly between Ukraine and Russia, not through American intermediaries. Peskov confirmed that Putin remains open to direct talks with Kyiv but added that any resolution “cannot be done overnight.”

The new investment agreement, although primarily economic, sends a strong geopolitical signal of continued U.S. alignment with Ukraine’s sovereignty and post-war reconstruction. It also positions the United States to benefit materially from Ukraine’s vast untapped resources, reshaping the nature of Western involvement in the country amid ongoing tensions with Moscow.