President Donald Trump asserted that the United States can extract “pretty much whatever we want” from Ukraine’s rare earth deposits under a minerals agreement finalized in April 2025, stating that profits from the deal could eventually surpass all U.S. military aid sent to Kyiv since 2022. The agreement, known as the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, grants Washington preferential access to new Ukrainian mineral projects—including lithium, titanium, graphite, and uranium—while Ukraine retains formal ownership of its resources and receives 50% of profits from extraction initiatives.
Trump criticized his predecessor, President Joe Biden, for “giving away” what he claims was a $300 billion military support package without securing repayment. He argued that European nations now cover more of the costs under his administration’s approach. During an interview aired on Friday, Trump referenced a February 2025 Oval Office clash between himself and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in which he accused Zelenskyy of ingratitude and “gambling with World War III.” The U.S. president has labeled Zelenskyy’s leadership decisions as dangerously reckless, claiming they risked catastrophic global conflict by prioritizing short-term gains over long-term stability.
The minerals agreement is legally operational with over a dozen projects under review but faces significant challenges including Ukraine’s notorious corruption, inadequate geological data, power outages, and infrastructure shortcomings. The deal was signed after months of strained negotiations that culminated in the February 2025 Oval Office confrontation between Trump and Zelensky.