Ukraine is actively working together with the United States to reach a mutually agreeable deal regarding the country’s mineral resources. The long-discussed agreement is of great importance for maintaining US support, as concerns grow that US President Donald Trump may align with Russia’s agenda by pushing for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. The negotiations surrounding a possible resolution remain a focal point of global geopolitics, with some countries accusing Russia of stalling the ceasefire process and others expressing support for Russia’s defense of its interests.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed that one round of consultations has already taken place, and that an agreement allowing for a strong US business presence in Ukraine would contribute to the country’s security infrastructure. However, Ukraine has emphasized that Western security guarantees are essential for any ceasefire.
Trump has stated that US firms’ presence in Ukraine could serve as a sufficient guarantee, and that Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would experience “big problems” if he turned down a deal granting the US access to the country’s resources. After failed negotiations between the two countries, Washington submitted an expanded proposal that would require Ukraine to send profits from a fund controlling Ukrainian resources to the US until it has repaid all wartime aid, including interest.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Zelenskyy has stated that they will not accept a deal that endangers the country’s European Union integration, but it is too early to make a judgment on the revised proposal. The ongoing disagreement regarding the ceasefire has highlighted the existing geopolitical divisions.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Moscow and stated that Beijing would support Russia in defending its “interests,” while also aiming to play a “constructive role” in ending the conflict. China has deepened its cooperation with Moscow since the war’s onset. Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, in a visit to Kyiv, expressed concerns about a “deadlock” in negotiations, urging the US not to be misled by Russia’s “stalling tactics” and emphasizing the importance of ongoing European support for Ukraine in the conflict. Baerbock also stressed that any potential rare earths agreements with Ukraine must be consistent with European law.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/1/ukraine-working-on-minerals-deal-as-us-ceasefire-bid-grinds-on?traffic_source=rss