Ukraine to Sign Mineral Deal With U.S. Wednesday/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Ukraine is set to finalize a major mineral resources agreement with the United States on Wednesday in Washington. The deal, aimed at boosting rare earth production, comes amid ongoing war with Russia and diplomatic pressure from the U.S. for peace. Final technical approvals are underway, though uncertainty lingers over the Trump administration’s readiness to sign.
Ukraine-U.S. Mineral Pact: Quick Looks
- Ukraine plans to sign landmark mineral deal in Washington
- Deal includes rare earth access for U.S. in exchange for support
- Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko finalizing technical details
- Agreement requires ratification by Ukraine’s parliament
- Ukraine added provisions to balance original U.S.-favoring draft
- Trump previously linked mineral rights to future war assistance
- Deal unfolds amid mounting civilian casualties and stalled peace talks
- Russia rejects ceasefire without halt to Western aid to Kyiv
- UN reports 46% rise in Ukrainian civilian casualties in April
- Ukrainian drone hits Russian defense plant east of Moscow
Ukraine to Sign Mineral Deal With U.S. Wednesday
Deep Look
Ukraine to Sign Rare Earth Mineral Deal With U.S. as War Presses On
KYIV, UKRAINE — Ukraine is poised to sign a long-anticipated mineral resources agreement with the United States on Wednesday in Washington, a major economic milestone as Kyiv continues its war effort against Russia and seeks closer ties with Western powers.
According to two senior Ukrainian officials speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the negotiations, Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko is in Washington to finalize the technical terms of the agreement. The Ukrainian Cabinet is expected to approve the final text before a government official signs it.
“The deal will then head to the Ukrainian parliament for ratification,” one of the officials told the AP.
The agreement, which centers on joint access and development of Ukraine’s rare earth minerals and critical raw materials, is structured around a central pact and at least two supporting technical documents, the official said.
A second Ukrainian source confirmed that the agreement has improved significantly since March, when an early U.S. draft was viewed by Kyiv as overly one-sided. Since then, both sides have negotiated additional details and operational frameworks that better reflect a balanced partnership.
Trump Links Support to Resource Access
U.S. President Donald Trump has previously tied future U.S. support for Ukraine to access to rare earth minerals. While it’s unclear if the White House will sign the deal on Wednesday, officials suggest the mineral partnership is central to U.S.-Ukraine relations moving forward — and potentially to unlocking more military aid.
“Trump wants those minerals,” one Ukrainian official noted. “And this deal may be key to continued support.”
The agreement also comes as peace negotiations remain stalled and the Kremlin signaled Wednesday that a ceasefire deal is still distant. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said peace talks are “too complex” to resolve quickly and that Russia needs answers to several “nuanced” issues before committing to an agreement.
War Continues as Civilian Toll Grows
While diplomacy struggles, the war on the ground continues with deadly results. Overnight, Russian drone strikes on the city of Kharkiv injured at least 45 people, Ukrainian officials reported. The United Nations said this week that verified Ukrainian civilian casualties jumped 46% in April compared to the same period last year.
Between April 1 and April 24 alone, the U.N. verified 2,641 civilian casualties — nearly 900 more than in the first quarter of 2024.
“Civilians have been killed or wounded daily in 2025,” the U.N. said in its latest report.
Ukraine’s air force said 108 Shahed and decoy drones targeted multiple cities, with most aimed at Dnipro and Kharkiv.
In retaliation, Ukrainian officials claimed responsibility for a drone strike that hit the Murom Instrument Engineering Plant in Russia’s Vladimir region. The facility reportedly manufactures ignition devices for ammunition and military components for the Russian Navy and air force. Ukrainian sources told the AP the strike caused at least five explosions and a fire at the site, though the claims remain unverified.
Stalemate in Peace Talks
Meanwhile, Trump has grown visibly frustrated with the pace of the war and Ukraine’s resistance to immediate ceasefire terms. He has publicly blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for “prolonging” the conflict and criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for launching fresh attacks during sensitive diplomatic moments.
The U.S. State Department reiterated Tuesday that if no progress is made soon, Washington may withdraw from mediation efforts altogether.
“We’re at a point where detailed proposals are needed,” said spokesperson Tammy Bruce, quoting Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Russia, for its part, has rejected a proposed 30-day ceasefire unless Ukraine halts mobilization efforts and the West suspends military support. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Ukraine’s push for an immediate truce only emerged because its military is losing ground.
“They’re in retreat,” Lavrov said from a BRICS summit in Brazil. “Now they demand an unconditional ceasefire. That’s not credible.”
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