U.S.-Ukraine critical minerals deal still under discussion – Stefanishyna

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Minister of Justice, Olha Stefanishyna stated this on Tuesday, Ukrinform reports citing The Guardian.

According to Stefanishyna, Ukraine “has not rejected” the proposed US deal on critical minerals, which remains under discussion. “We expect that it will be signed,” she said.

As previously reported, on February 15, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the agreement is not yet finalized, noting that any deal must include security guarantees alongside investment commitments.

Meanwhile, media reports citing a draft version of the agreement suggest that the terms proposed by the U.S. are highly stringent. Some reports even compare them to post-World War II financial restrictions imposed on defeated nations like Germany and Japan, suggesting that Ukraine could face terms worse than those applied to an adversary after a military defeat.

If signed, the deal could unlock up to $500 billion in investments in Ukraine’s vast natural resources, particularly its reserves of lithium, titanium, and other key minerals essential for global industries, including defense and clean energy. However, concerns remain about the sovereignty of resource control and the potential economic burden on Ukraine.