Trump Administration Proposes US 50% Ownership of Ukraine's Rare Earth Minerals

The Trump administration has proposed that the United States receive a 50% stake in Ukraine's rare earth minerals, potentially as a means for Ukraine to reimburse the U.S. for military aid provided since February 2022. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent presented this draft proposal to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a recent meeting in Kyiv, but Zelenskyy declined to sign it, citing the need for further review and consultation with his team. He referred to the document as a memorandum rather than a security agreement and indicated that his legal advisors would assess it before making any commitments. The U.S. has also suggested deploying troops to protect these minerals if a peace deal with Russia is reached. As discussions continue, the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington and the White House National Security Council have not commented on the proposal. Zelenskyy met with U.S. officials at a global security conference in Munich shortly after the Kyiv meeting to further discuss the matter.