WASHINGTON, Aug 1: US President Donald Trump has defended the mineral resources agreement between Washington and Kyiv, asserting that the United States has extensive access to Ukraine’s valuable natural resources under the bilateral pact. Trump described the arrangement as a significant strategic gain for the US, arguing it could eventually offset the billions of dollars spent on supporting Ukraine since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
During an interview with Real America’s Voice aired on Friday, Trump criticised former President Joe Biden’s approach to military assistance for Ukraine, claiming the previous administration committed massive financial support without ensuring any economic return for American taxpayers.
Trump argued that European nations should have borne a greater share of the financial responsibility from the outset, adding that his administration had successfully encouraged allies to increase their contributions.
Highlighting the agreement signed with Kyiv, Trump said Ukraine possesses abundant reserves of strategically important minerals and maintained that the United States has secured extensive rights under the deal.
He stated that the agreement allows the US to access Ukrainian mineral projects whenever required, describing the arrangement as one of the administration’s most beneficial international agreements.
The pact, signed in Washington in April 2025, established the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, aimed at promoting investment in new mining, energy and resource development projects across Ukraine.
Under the framework, the United States receives preferential opportunities to participate in future projects involving valuable resources such as lithium, titanium, graphite and uranium. At the same time, Ukraine retains ownership of its natural resources while receiving half of the profits generated from newly developed extraction ventures.
Trump has consistently portrayed the agreement as a way to recover a portion of the financial support the US has provided to Ukraine during the war.
However, his assertion that Washington has spent more than USD 300 billion on assistance has been challenged by official figures. According to the US Special Inspector General for Operation Atlantic Resolve, total congressional appropriations related to Ukraine are estimated at approximately USD 195 billion, substantially lower than Trump’s claim.
Despite the agreement being legally operational, translating it into active projects remains a complex task. Ongoing security concerns linked to the war continue to pose major obstacles, while investors also face issues including corruption risks, limited geological surveys, electricity shortages and inadequate infrastructure needed for large-scale mining operations.
The agreement followed months of difficult negotiations between the two countries. One of the most notable moments came during a televised Oval Office meeting in February 2025, where Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly clashed over the pace of support and future cooperation.
The deal also drew criticism from Moscow. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev claimed the arrangement demonstrated that Ukraine would ultimately compensate the United States through its natural resources, characterising the agreement as payment for continued American military support.
While supporters view the partnership as a long-term investment in Ukraine’s reconstruction and resource development, analysts say its ultimate success will depend on improvements in security, infrastructure and governance once conditions on the ground stabilise.