Work on the mineral resource deal between the U.S. and Ukraine is ongoing, but an agreement has not yet been reached, stated U.S. Senator Marco Rubio.
I can’t confirm that the deal has been finalized. Our team, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, is continuing work on this matter. From my latest understanding, we’re very close to completion, he said in an interview with Fox News, responding to a question about the progress of negotiations with Kyiv.
On February 3, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Washington is expecting Ukraine to guarantee the supply of rare-earth metals in exchange for financial and military assistance. On February 14, the Washington Post, citing sources among lawmakers, reported that U.S. officials had proposed signing a document with President Volodymyr Zelensky that would grant the U.S. rights to 50% of Ukraine’s untapped mineral resources. However, according to Zelensky himself, he refused to sign the agreement, turning down a proposal from U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance.
U.S. President’s advisor Mike Waltz noted that Zelensky should return to negotiations over the rare-earth metals deal as compensation for the aid already provided to Ukraine. Waltz expressed confidence that the Ukrainian president will soon resume these discussions.
