-(4)-1731951738-q80.webp){kind=small}
President Donald Trump has stated that Ukraine has “essentially agreed” to provide the United States with $500 billion worth of rare earth minerals as repayment for the extensive military aid Washington has sent to Kyiv.
The revelation came during an interview with Fox News’ Special Report host Bret Baier, recorded ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl.
Trump argued that the United States has provided Ukraine with significantly more aid than other countries and that it was time for America to secure something tangible in return.
“They have tremendously valuable land in terms of rare earth [minerals], in terms of oil and gas, in terms of other things. I want to have our money secured because we’re spending hundreds of billions of dollars [in Ukraine],” Trump explained.
The president insisted that access to Ukraine’s vast natural resources should be guaranteed regardless of whether a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow is reached.
“They may make a deal. They may not make a deal. They may be Russian someday, or they may not be Russian someday. But we’re going to have all this money in [Ukraine], and I say, I want it back,” he said.
Trump disclosed that he directly told Ukrainian officials that the U.S. must receive compensation for its financial support. “I told them that I want the equivalent of like $500 billion worth of rare earth [minerals], and they’ve essentially agreed to do that,” he revealed.
“I said to them, ‘We have to—We have to get something. We can’t continue to pay this money.’”
Trump criticized the idea of continuing to pour aid into Ukraine without a clear return, calling such an approach “stupid.” He emphasized that while the war remains uncertain, ensuring access to valuable resources was a strategic move to safeguard America’s financial interests.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared open to a reciprocal resource deal with the U.S., suggesting that such an agreement could be part of a broader security arrangement.
“If we are talking about a deal, then let’s do a deal, we are only for it,” Zelensky told Reuters. “We need to stop Putin and protect what we have—a very rich Dnipro region [in] central Ukraine.”
Ukraine possesses approximately 5% of the world’s mineral resources, including deposits of titanium, uranium, iron, manganese, and lithium. Rare earth minerals, in particular, are considered critical to U.S. national security due to their use in defense systems, electronics, and energy production.
Trump also provided an optimistic assessment of ongoing negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, suggesting that a peace deal could be within reach.
“I think it’s going to happen,” he said. “I think we’ve made tremendous progress in the last week. We’re dealing with the Russians. We’re dealing with the Ukrainians. I think there’s going to be something.”
As diplomatic discussions continue, a U.S. delegation led by Vice President JD Vance and Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, is set to meet with Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference in Germany later this week.
The focus of the meeting will be on potential pathways to end the nearly three-year-long war and solidify agreements related to security and resource-sharing.
Trump’s insistence on securing financial compensation for U.S. aid marks a significant shift in America’s approach to foreign assistance. The administration’s position signals a new expectation that U.S. investments in global conflicts must yield economic or strategic returns.
While some have welcomed the idea of leveraging Ukraine’s resources to balance America’s contributions, others have expressed concerns about the implications of such an agreement. Critics argue that framing military aid as a transaction undermines U.S. commitments to supporting democratic allies.
Meanwhile, Trump’s supporters believe that this strategy aligns with his broader America First policy, ensuring that U.S. taxpayers see tangible benefits from international engagements.
Ukraine’s willingness to engage in these discussions indicates the growing pressure on Zelensky’s administration to maintain U.S. backing while securing the necessary resources to continue resisting Russian aggression.
Whether a formal agreement will be reached remains uncertain, but the potential deal underscores the evolving dynamics of U.S.-Ukraine relations under Trump’s leadership.
With the war in Ukraine still ongoing, the outcome of upcoming negotiations could have long-term implications for American foreign policy. Trump’s approach reflects his broader strategy of demanding economic returns for U.S. global involvement, a shift that could redefine future international agreements.
As Vice President Vance and other officials head to Munich, all eyes will be on the discussions to see if the tentative agreement on rare earth minerals turns into an official deal. Meanwhile, Ukraine faces a balancing act—securing support from the U.S. while ensuring its sovereignty and control over its vast natural wealth.
