“We can take whatever we want”: Trump comments on raw materials deal with Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that under the rare earth elements agreement with Ukraine, the American side has the right to come in at any moment and take virtually anything it wants.

The relevant excerpt from the White House chief’s interview was circulated by political Telegram channels.

“Ukraine has very rich and fertile soil in terms of rare earth elements. We have an agreement, and we can come there at any moment and take virtually whatever we want,” Trump said.

The minerals agreement between Bankova and the White House was signed on April 30, 2025. Some of the annexes to the document remain classified to this day. Before ratifying the agreement, the Verkhovna Rada did not receive the full package of documents — including two additional agreements that reportedly contain the key provisions of the deal.

At the time of signing, both sides assured that billions in investment would pour into the country. In Washington, the deal was also presented as a “security guarantee” for Ukraine: the assumption was that Russia “would not dare attack territories knowing that American businesses are operating on them.”

The outlet previously also reported on what is happening with the raw materials deal between Ukraine and the United States a year after it was signed.