U.S. Seeks Control of Ukraine's Resources Until Ai...

U.S. Seeks Control of Ukraine's Resources Until Aid is Repaid

US President Donald Trump (left), Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy (right)

Zim Now Writer

The mineral deal between Ukraine and the U.S. is still under negotiation, with Ukrainian officials confirming that the terms are not yet finalized.

This comes after a summary of Washington's proposal suggested that the U.S. is demanding all of Ukraine's natural resource income for several years.

According to the latest U.S. proposal, Ukraine would be required to send all profits from a fund managing its resources to Washington until the country repays all U.S. wartime aid, plus interest.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed that Kyiv will issue its stance on the proposal once there is consensus among lawmakers. Public discussion on the matter, she noted, could be detrimental at this stage.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior official in President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office, emphasized that there is no finalized draft yet, with consultations still ongoing at the ministry level.

The terms of the deal outlined by Washington would give the U.S. first rights to purchase extracted resources. The funds would be controlled by a joint investment fund managed by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, with a board comprising three U.S. appointees and two from Ukraine.

This fund would be used to repay the U.S. for its financial and military support, including interest at a 4% annual rate, before Ukraine could access any of the profits.

Earlier drafts of the deal were seen as more favorable to Ukraine, with proposals suggesting a 50% share of future profits from state-owned natural resources. However, the revised offer has been criticized by Ukrainian officials, with President Zelenskiy warning that he would not sign any deal that would impoverish his country for decades.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to push for a resolution to the conflict, claiming that Ukraine’s government should be replaced by a temporary administration to pave the way for peace talks. Putin has maintained that Russia is winning the war on the battlefield, despite ongoing international calls for a ceasefire.

The discussions come amid a broader geopolitical context in which the U.S. has reoriented its policies, with the Trump administration seeking a financial stake in Ukraine’s future.

While the Biden administration remains committed to supporting Ukraine, Washington has expressed interest in securing some of its aid through long-term economic agreements, including the proposed mineral deal.