It was suggested by the Trump administration that the United States military might be sent in to provide security in relation to the minerals in the event that a peace agreement is reached with Russia…
According to four U.S. officials, the Trump administration has signaled its willingness to deploy American forces to Ukraine to safeguard the country’s valuable rare earth minerals.
In a bold and unprecedented move, the administration has also expressed openness to securing a 50% stake in Ukraine’s rare earth reserves—an offer that could significantly reshape the geopolitical landscape and global access to these critical resources.
According to two officials, the proposed ownership deal is intended as a way for Ukraine to compensate the United States for the billions of dollars in military aid and support provided since the war began in February 2022—without directly purchasing the minerals themselves.
The bold proposition, granting the U.S. a 50% stake in Ukraine’s rare earth reserves, was formally presented to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Eight U.S. officials briefed on the high-stakes meeting in Kyiv confirmed that Bessent personally carried a draft contract outlining the proposal to Wednesday’s discussions.
After the meeting, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remarked that the draft agreement on rare earth minerals reflected the president’s strategic vision. However, he refrained from divulging specific details about the administration’s proposal, leaving many questions unanswered.
During his speech at the security conference on Friday, Zelenskyy confirmed that his legal team would thoroughly review the document presented by Bessent in Kyiv and provide recommendations and revisions. Notably, he refrained from calling it a security agreement, instead referring to it as a memorandum between the United States and Ukraine.
Meanwhile, both the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington and the White House National Security Council remained silent, offering no immediate response to requests for comment on the matter.
Prior to his arrival in Munich, Zelenskyy emphasized his commitment to carefully examining the document, stating that he and his team would “review all details” before making any decisions. In Munich, he engaged in discussions with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and U.S. lawmakers on the sidelines of a global security conference, further underscoring the significance of the ongoing negotiations.
In recent months, President Donald Trump has demonstrated a keen interest in securing a broad agreement with Ukraine that would grant the United States significant access to the country’s valuable rare earth minerals—key components in the production of advanced technology.
During a recent interview with Fox News, Trump revealed his ambition for the U.S. to acquire $500 billion worth of these critical minerals from Ukraine. He further claimed that Kyiv had “essentially agreed” to the deal, signaling a major potential shift in resource negotiations between the two nations.
Earlier this month, President Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he views access to rare earth minerals as a matter of national security.
“The safety of rare earth is something I would like to have,” Trump stated. “We’re contributing hundreds of billions of dollars. They have a great deal of rare earth, and I want to ensure its security—they’re willing to do so.”
According to three U.S. officials, a significant portion of Ukraine’s rare earth deposits lies in regions currently controlled by Russian forces.
Ukrainian officials have indicated that President Zelenskyy has long supported the idea of exchanging “critical resources” in return for continued U.S. support, a strategy he outlined in what he called the “Victory Plan” presented to Trump during their meeting last fall.
In an exclusive interview at the Munich Security Conference, Zelenskyy told Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker that Ukraine’s survival would be “very, very difficult” without continued military aid from the United States.
“Even in the most trying circumstances, there is always a possibility for you. However, our chances of survival will be extremely low if we do not receive backing from the United States. I believe that it is of utmost significance and importance,” Zelenskyy emphasized.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth clarified this week that the United States will not deploy troops to Ukraine as part of any security guarantees. However, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal published on Friday, Vice President JD Vance suggested in an interview that U.S. military involvement remains “on the table” should Russia refuse to negotiate a peace deal in good faith.
President Trump has long expressed frustration over the extent of U.S. support for Ukraine, famously dubbing Zelenskyy “the greatest salesman of all time” during a campaign rally.
During a speech in September, President Trump remarked, “Every time Zelenskyy comes to the United States, he walks away with $100 billion. I believe he is the best salesman on the entire planet.” He further asserted, “However, unless I am elected president, we will remain engaged in that conflict.”
