Photo: Alamy
On Wednesday, the U.S. and Ukraine announced that they had signed a deal to establish investment in rare-earth minerals in the former Soviet Republic.
The agreement was signed in Washington, D.C., following months of efforts by the Trump administration to advance peace efforts between Ukraine and Russia.
“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,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a video posted on X.
“This partnership allows the United States to invest alongside Ukraine to unlock Ukraine’s gross assets, mobilize American talent, capital and governance standards that will improve Ukraine’s investment climate and accelerate Ukraine’s economic recovery,” he continued.
Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko also released a statement to mark the signing of the agreement.
“I am grateful to everyone who worked for the agreement and made it more meaningful,” said Svyrydenko, according to The Kyiv Independent. “Now the document is such that it can ensure success for both our countries — Ukraine and the United States.”
The agreement came a week after President Donald Trump condemned Russia’s latest military strikes on Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, renewing calls for a peace deal between the two nations.
“I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!” he wrote on Truth Social.
The words come less than 24 hours after Trump blasted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over including Crimea as part of peace talks with Russia.
“Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is boasting on the front page of The Wall Street Journal that, ‘Ukraine will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea. There’s nothing to talk about here.’ This statement is very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia in that Crimea was lost years ago under the auspices of President Barack Hussein Obama, and is not even a point of discussion,” the president posted on Wednesday.
“The situation for Ukraine is dire — He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country. I have nothing to do with Russia, but have much to do with wanting to save, on average, five thousand Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week, who are dying for no reason whatsoever,” Trump later continued.