Quote:Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday announced that the United States and Ukraine have signed the long-anticipated minerals deal through the creation of a reconstruction investment fund.


The two countries have been trying to work out the deal since February, which would give the U.S. access to mineral riches in Ukraine in exchange for funding the country during its war with Russia. 

Bessent said the economic partnership positions the two countries to work collaboratively to ensure mutual assets, talents, and capabilities can speed up Ukraine’s economic recovery.

“Thanks to President Trump’s tireless efforts to secure a lasting peace, I am glad to announce the signing of today’s historic economic partnership agreement between the United States and Ukraine establishing the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund,” Bessent said in a statement. 

“As the President has said, the United States is committed to helping facilitate the end of this cruel and senseless war," he continued. "This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump Administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term."

Quote:Ukraine has already agreed it will “de facto” concede land held by Russia for a ceasefire and peace process, President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy has said.


President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy to Ukraine the retired General Keith Kellogg has said the United States will not now — as previously warned — be stepping away from the negotiating table between Ukraine and Russia as the signals coming out of Kyiv are “very, very good” and Ukraine has now agreed to concede land held by Russia for peace.

The comments came just as the United States and Ukraine signed President Trump’s rare earths deal, hailed as an ‘important milestone’ on the road to achieving peace in the region, given it gives the U.S. a long-term interest in the security of Ukraine.

Speaking to Fox News on Wednesday evening, Kellogg related that progress had been made in his visit to London last week to speak with Ukraine and its European backers, saying Kyiv had now agreed to “22 concrete terms”.