Wed Feb 26 01:24:15 UTC 2025: ## Trump Announces Trillion-Dollar Deal with Ukraine on Natural Resource Development

**Washington D.C.** – President Donald Trump announced a landmark agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to jointly develop Ukraine’s natural resources, potentially worth $1 trillion. Trump, speaking at the White House on Tuesday, confirmed reports that the deal is expected to be signed on Friday during a visit by Zelenskyy.

The agreement grants the US access to Ukraine’s substantial reserves of rare earth minerals, crucial for various technological applications. Trump claimed the deal will ensure American taxpayers recoup their investment in Ukraine, citing hundreds of billions of dollars already provided in aid and military equipment. This figure is significantly higher than the $174 billion appropriated by the US Congress for Ukraine between 2022 and 2024, according to the Congressional Research Service. While the exact terms remain undisclosed, reports indicate Ukraine would contribute 50 percent of future revenue from its resources to a jointly owned fund for investment in Ukrainian projects. No explicit US security guarantees are reportedly included.

The agreement follows previous tensions between the two leaders, including Zelenskyy’s initial rejection of a draft deal deemed too advantageous to the US. Al Jazeera reports suggest that significant pressure from Trump led to the breakthrough, and that Ukrainian officials believe the deal is a way for Trump to secure his desired outcome. Experts, such as Matthew Sussex of the Australian National University, view the deal as a way to reset relations following recent public disagreements. While Ukraine benefits from resource development, the lack of security guarantees in the agreement raises some questions.

The deal’s significance is underscored by Ukraine’s possession of approximately 5% of the world’s rare earth mineral reserves. These minerals are vital components in the manufacturing of electronics, batteries, and magnets, highlighting the strategic importance of this agreement for both countries.

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