THE US and Ukraine have finally signed the historic minerals deal, leaving Vladimir Putin furious.
The long-awaited agreement blames Putin for the three-year-long war, spares Ukraine from payback and will even allow Kyiv to join the EU.
A Ukrainian soldier drives an anti-aircraft machine gun during an air raid alarm[/caption]
Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a drone strike in Odesa[/caption]
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko sign the minerals deal[/caption]
The US and Ukraine signed the minerals deal two months after it was derailed by Trump and Zelensky’s Oval Office bust-up.
It comes as a humiliating blow for Vladimir Putin, who has unsuccessfully tried to break apart the two allies on a number of ocassions.
The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, celebrated the deal in a press conference on Thursday.
She said: “[The deal] is the first of its kind, economic partnership for the reconstruction and long-term economic success of Ukraine.”
Here are the five reasons the deal will drive Vlad mad.
No payback
Trump previously hinted that Ukraine would have to pay back the £264billion of aid that he claims the US has provided during the war.
The agreement acknowledges the US’ “significant financial and material support to Ukraine” since the beginning of the conflict.
But it seems the US President has made a U-turn – as there is no mention of “debt” anywhere.
Instead Don is banking on making his money back via his newly-agreed access to Ukrainian resources.
The deal also takes a tougher tone with Russian tyrant than we have come to expect from the Trump administration.
The agreement blames Russia for the war calling it “Russia‘s full-scale invasion” – a term which is sure to make Putin squirm.
It also says: “No state or person who financed or supplied the Russian war machine will be allowed to benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine”.
Oil and gas as well as minerals
The deal will give Washington priority access to invest in new projects to develop Ukraine‘s natural resources.
Ukraine holds some five per cent of the world’s mineral resources and rare earths, according to various estimates.
And the country has around 20 per cent of the world’s graphite, an essential material for electric batteries, according to France‘s Bureau of Geological and Mining Research.
It is also a major producer of manganese and titanium, and says it possesses the largest lithium deposits in Europe.
But while most of the talk around the deal is about minerals, oil and natural gas are also included, as well as aluminium and graphite.
Oil and gas were not included in earlier drafts of the deal, which suggests that Zelensky has warmed towards the US President.
The resources will still technically belong to Ukraine but it’s still no doubt a blow to Vlad, as the US has gained joint access.
Kyiv can join EU
Zelensky has long expressed his desire to join the European Union.
Talks between Ukraine and the EU formally began last June but they were derailed by concerns surrounding a possible minerals deal with the US.
The EU was previously concerned that Ukraine may give preferential treatment to its US knight in shining armour – but these have now been squashed.
The agreement acknowledges Ukraine’s intention to join the EU as well as the importance of the deal not compromising this.
It also says if Ukraine needs to revisit the terms of the deal because of “additional obligations” then the US will be happy to oblige.
This will likely be salt in Vlad’s wound who has had a strained relationship with the EU since the beginning of the war.
Medical workers evacuate a resident from an apartment building damaged during a Russian drone strike in Odesa[/caption]
A Ukrainian tank crew during a field training exercise[/caption]
Possible US military commitment
The deal also comes with the possibility of continued military support from the US.
Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko – who flew to Washington DC to sign the deal – said it envisaged the US contributing new assistance in the future, such as air defence systems.
News of any military support for Zelensky is bad news for Putin who has already lost tens of thousands of troops in his meatgrinder war.
But the agreement does not include any concrete security guarantees from the US – despite a push from Ukraine to do so – meaning they could withdraw at anytime.
Since the signing, Trump has already authorised the sale of weapons to Ukraine for the first time since he took office.
Profits may be reinvested in Ukraine
For the first decade of the reconstruction investment fund profits will reportedly be “fully reinvested in Ukraine’s economy” – either in new projects or reconstruction.
Following the ten-year period Kyiv said the profits may be distributed between the two parties.
While this has not been officially inked it may be part of an additional deal down the line.
The art of the deal
By Lydia Doye
THE US and Ukraine signed the long-awaited minerals deal two months after it was derailed by Trump and Zelensky’s Oval Office bust-up.
The agreement was the result of months of tense negotiations which saw the world leaders come head to head at times.
Zelensky rejected initial proposals that gave the US 50% of Ukraine’s rare earth minerals in exchange for continued military aid – sending the parties back to the drawing board.
The final agreement is a compromise between the pair – with both celebrating the historic inking.
Zelensky did not go to Washington to sign the deal – instead it was inked by Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
She said afterwards: “Together with the United States, we are creating the Fund that will attract global investment into our country.”
Trump initially was due to close the deal when Zelensky visited the White House back in February.
But plans were derailed after their historic row, which saw the infamous shouting match erupt and Trump asking Zelensky to leave.
After rounds of back-and-forth diplomatic negotiations, both Washington and Kyiv agreed to sign the deal on Wednesday.
In Kyiv, Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said on national television that the agreement was “good, equal and beneficial.”
Russia lashed out at the US and Ukraine after they signed the deal.
Vladimir Putin‘s right-hand-man vowed that Ukraine will “disappear” and mocked Donald Trump‘s poor ratings as Russia reels from the deal that could prove a lifeline for Ukraine.
President Trump has been working on the deal with Ukraine[/caption]
Putin lashed out at the US after the historic deal was signed[/caption]