U.S. and Ukraine Edge Closer to Rare Earth Minerals Pact Amid Diplomatic Push

The United States and Ukraine are making headway in talks that could see Washington gain access to Ukraine’s valuable rare earth minerals, potentially deepening ties between the two nations, a source close to the negotiations revealed. The discussions, which intensified this week, follow a flurry of pointed exchanges between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over the terms of a prospective deal.

Rare earth minerals, a group of 17 elements critical for manufacturing everything from smartphones to electric vehicles, have become a strategic priority for the U.S. as it seeks to diversify supply chains dominated by China. Ukraine, with its significant deposits, has emerged as a key player in this geopolitical equation. The talks gained momentum during a three-day visit to Kyiv by Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, who concluded his trip on Friday.

The negotiations have not been without friction. Zelensky recently rejected a U.S. proposal presented by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during a visit to Kyiv last week, citing its lack of security assurances for Ukraine. He raised similar concerns days later in Munich during a meeting with Vice President JD Vance. Trump, meanwhile, has publicly criticized Zelensky, calling Bessent’s earlier trip a “wasted” effort in a Friday Fox News Radio interview and pressing Ukraine to expedite talks on broader issues, including its war with Russia.

Despite the barbs, Kellogg’s meetings with Zelensky, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, parliamentary speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, and other Ukrainian leaders yielded progress, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the ongoing discussions. In his nightly address on Friday, Zelensky signaled cautious optimism, noting that teams from both sides were hammering out a draft agreement. “This can strengthen our partnership,” he said, emphasizing the need for a deal that delivers mutual benefits.

The White House has yet to confirm whether security guarantees—a sticking point for Kyiv—are part of the evolving proposal. Earlier U.S. suggestions framed Ukraine’s minerals as a way to offset past aid from the Biden administration and secure future support, an idea Zelensky first pitched last fall to bolster Ukraine’s leverage in talks with Moscow. Trump endorsed the concept earlier this month, and on Friday, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz predicted confidently at the Conservative Political Action Conference that Zelensky would ultimately agree. “He’s going to sign that deal,” Waltz declared.

The talks coincide with separate U.S. efforts to broker an end to Ukraine’s three-year conflict with Russia. Trump aides, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Waltz, met with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia this week, a move Zelensky criticized for excluding Ukraine. Trump dismissed those concerns on Fox News Radio, arguing Zelensky lacked leverage and urging him to act swiftly or risk losing U.S. backing entirely.

The verbal sparring has drawn mixed reactions. Some U.S. lawmakers, including Democrats and pro-Ukraine Republicans, have condemned Trump’s tough stance, pointing to bipartisan support for Kyiv’s defense against Russia. Zelensky, for his part, has remained focused on securing a “just result,” as he put it Friday, amid Ukraine’s ongoing struggle against Russian aggression.

As Kellogg returned to Washington, the prospect of a U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal remains in flux, balancing economic opportunity with the complex realities of war and diplomacy.

With inputs from Associated Press via PTI