- A draft contract delivered to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly entitles the U.S. to half of his country’s mineral wealth. Whether or not such a deal would prove historically onerous, it would likely not help America meaningfully untangle China’s chokehold on supply.
President Donald Trump wants Ukraine to pay up for past American military support, and other reported details are emerging about a deal that would entitle the U.S. to half of its ally’s rare earth minerals. The contract draft, delivered by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week, covered the entire “economic value associated with resources of Ukraine,” the Telegraph reported Monday, including minerals, oil and gas, and even the country’s ports.
