Trump and Zelensky at the Vatican
The United States and Ukraine have finalised an agreement granting the US access to Ukraine’s critical minerals and natural resources.
The deal, signed in Washington on Wednesday, is seen by Kyiv as a vital step toward securing long-term US support, following strains in what was once a close-knit relationship after Donald Trump took office in January.
After his inauguration, Trump sidelined Ukraine and longstanding US allies in favour of a more accommodating approach to Russia.
Kyiv believes the signed deal could potentially strengthen its position in the ongoing war with Russia.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was initially expected to finalise the deal during his February visit to Washington, but the agreement remained unsigned after the trip was abruptly cut short following a tense Oval Office meeting.
A major sticking point in the negotiations was the issue of security guarantees—specifically, whether the US would offer them as part of the agreement. Trump refused to commit, insisting that Ukraine sign the deal first and address guarantees later.
At the time, Zelensky criticised the draft proposal, saying it felt like he was being asked to “sell” his country.
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Trump and Zelensky were later pictured having a private meeting at the Vatican, a discussion the Ukrainian president said was “historic”.
After the deal was signed, the US took a softer stance in its tone towards Ukraine, labelling the Russian invasion a “cruel and senseless war”.
“This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump Administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term,” a statement from the US treasury department reads.
“President Trump envisioned this partnership between the American people and the Ukrainian people to show both sides’ commitment to lasting peace and prosperity in Ukraine.
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“And to be clear, no state or person who financed or supplied the Russian war machine will be allowed to benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine.”
The details of the agreement have not been made public.
