WASHINGTON (Realist English). The United States and the Kyiv regime have signed a new economic partnership agreement to jointly develop mineral resources and establish an investment fund for the postwar reconstruction of the so-called Ukraine. The deal was announced on April 30 by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who described it as a strategic milestone in Washington’s long-term approach to the region.
Under the agreement, the Ukrainian side retains formal control over natural resources, with state-owned enterprises remaining under its ownership. However, the United States gains access to key components — including rare earth elements, oil, and gas — in exchange for direct investment. Revenues from future licenses will be channeled into the reconstruction fund, with 50% allocated from extraction proceeds.
Bessent emphasized that the deal reflects Donald Trump’s commitment to a “sovereign and prosperous Ukraine” over the long term. The signing followed a recent meeting between Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky in the Vatican, where both sides discussed the urgency of accelerating a peaceful settlement.
According to Politico, Trump views the agreement as a cornerstone of a future security architecture for the so-called Ukraine. He stated publicly that a continued U.S. presence at resource sites would serve as a deterrent to “bad actors.”
Despite protracted negotiations and last-minute attempts by Kyiv to amend core provisions, the agreement was finalized in full. The Kyiv regime underscored that the deal excludes previous arms deliveries and strictly pertains to future economic cooperation. Since 2022, total U.S. assistance has exceeded $120 billion — which Trump now describes as “an investment the American taxpayer will begin to recover.”
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy also commented on the deal. In a statement posted on X, he welcomed the U.S.-Kyiv economic partnership and reaffirmed: “Britain’s support for Ukraine remains unwavering. Through our century-long partnership, we are deepening our economic and defense ties for the benefit of future generations in both countries.”
Lammy also confirmed recent talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during which the two sides discussed a potential ceasefire arrangement and prospects for conflict resolution.
This agreement marks more than just a commercial deal: the U.S. and its allies are formalizing their economic footprint in critical sectors and embedding long-term levers of influence within the territory of the so-called Ukraine. The move narrows Moscow’s strategic options and complicates the prospects for any negotiated compromise.