The U.S. did not commit to supplying military aid to Ukraine under the mineral resources deal – media

The United States has not committed to providing military aid to Ukraine under the signed mineral resources agreement.

The agreement is being cited by Ukrainian media.

The document only states that if the United States chooses to provide such aid to Ukraine, its value will be counted as a contribution to the U.S.-Ukraine fund for the development of mineral resources.

“If […] the U.S. government provides the Ukrainian government with new military assistance in any form (including the transfer of weapons systems, ammunition, technologies, or training), the U.S. capital contribution shall be considered increased by the estimated value of such military aid,” the agreement says.

Notably, according to media reports, immediately after signing the mineral deal, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump unblocked commercial arms sales to Ukraine. In other words, Trump wants to sell weapons to Ukraine for money.

Overall, the signed agreement, like the earlier memorandum, is a framework and political document. Specific details were decided to be included in a separate document, which has not yet been finalized, according to European Pravda, which reviewed the signed agreement text.

However, the agreement does not concern revenues from Ukrainian infrastructure, as the U.S. had hoped, but only 57 minerals (listed in a screenshot). It applies only to new deposits, for which Ukraine will issue licenses after the agreement enters into force.

This list may be expanded by mutual agreement.

At the same time, U.S. companies will not have a “first right” to obtain licenses for mining mineral resources in Ukraine. However, they must have access to auctions or negotiations for purchasing such minerals on terms no worse than those for other buyers.

Recently, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that the joint U.S.-Ukrainian fund would offer “guaranteed commercial procurement of products” (presumably from the U.S. side).

The signed agreement does not outline the fund’s governance principles. It also does not include the U.S. obligation, mentioned by Prime Minister Shmyhal, to refrain from withdrawing funds from the fund for ten years and to invest them in Ukraine’s recovery.

These provisions are expected to appear in the next agreement.

Previously, it was noted that neither Ukraine nor the U.S. mentioned any security guarantees for Ukraine in any comments on the mineral deal.