Trump: US-Ukraine minerals deal could be worth more than American aid

US President Donald Trump has said the US-Ukraine minerals agreement gives Washington access to Ukraine's natural resources and could ultimately be worth more than the total amount of American assistance provided to Kyiv.

Speaking in an interview with Real America's Voice, Trump described the agreement as a favourable deal for the United States, Caliber.Az reports. 

"We have a contract signed having to do with rare earth. We can go in there at any time we want to take pretty much whatever we want. That was a pretty good deal."

Trump said Ukraine possesses significant rare earth mineral resources and argued that the agreement's value could substantially exceed the amount of US aid allocated to the country.

He suggested that access to Ukraine's mineral resources could be worth more than $300 billion, adding that the deal would allow Washington to recover the money it has spent supporting Ukraine.

The minerals agreement was signed on May 1, 2025, by then Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

The Ukrainian government subsequently published the full text of the agreement in both Ukrainian and English.

Trump reiterated that, in his view, the minerals deal would ultimately provide the United States with benefits exceeding the cost of its support for Ukraine.

By Sabina Mammadli