Washington is urging Kyiv to finalise a resource-sharing agreement that would grant US firms expanded access to Ukraine’s natural wealth, including rare earth minerals, oil, and gas. The proposed deal, which comes as Ukraine seeks further financial and military aid, has drawn pushback in Kyiv due to the absence of explicit security guarantees.
At the centre of the negotiations is a provision requiring Ukraine to allocate 50% of its resource revenues to a US-controlled fund until contributions reach $500bn (€477bn). The sum vastly exceeds Ukraine’s annual earnings from resource extraction, estimated at $1.1bn, and is nearly eight times the total US military assistance Kyiv has received since 2022, which stands at approximately $67bn (€64bn).
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy initially rejected the proposal, arguing that Washington had neither provided equivalent investment nor committed to Ukraine’s long-term security. However, US officials have continued to pressure Kyiv to reconsider. “If the US is serious about Ukraine’s sovereignty, it must guarantee our security before claiming rights to our resources,” a senior Ukrainian government official said.
US firms seek control over key resource sectors
Ukraine holds some of the world’s largest reserves of titanium, lithium, and rare earth elements, essential for defence technology and the energy transition. As the EU looks to Ukraine to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals, Washington’s proposal could complicate Kyiv’s ability to negotiate independently with European partners.
Under the proposed agreement, US firms would receive preferential rights to mine and extract Ukrainian resources, while Kyiv would be required to route revenues through a US-administered fund. The structure gives Washington financial oversight and reduces Ukraine’s control over its own natural wealth.
US officials have framed the proposal as an opportunity for Kyiv to secure long-term investment. US President Donald Trump has dismissed calls for further aid, stating that Ukraine should “offer something in return”. A senior White House official, speaking anonymously, said the deal was “not about charity but about investment”, adding that “it is in Ukraine’s interest to have strong US corporate involvement in rebuilding”.
Ukrainian officials, however, remain concerned that the agreement would leave Kyiv financially dependent on Washington while receiving no guarantees of protection against Russian aggression. “The US wants a stake in Ukraine’s future but won’t commit to defending it,” a senior economic adviser to Zelenskyy said.
Leverage over Starlink access
Reports have also surfaced that US officials raised the possibility of limiting Ukraine’s access to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network—a system vital for military communications—if Kyiv fails to comply with Washington’s demands.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, the US has not explicitly threatened to cut Starlink access, but officials have suggested that future military cooperation could be reassessed if Ukraine refuses the deal. SpaceX owner Elon Musk denied any involvement in the negotiations, saying that “Starlink remains committed to supporting Ukraine”.
Security assurances remain absent
Despite repeated Ukrainian requests, the proposed deal does not include formal security guarantees. Washington has pledged continued economic support, but there is no binding commitment to defend Kyiv against Russian aggression.
The negotiations mark a shift in the US-Ukraine relationship from a wartime alliance to a more transactional economic arrangement. As Kyiv weighs its options, it must decide whether financial stability is worth ceding control over strategic resources—without the security guarantees it seeks.
