Ukraine and US discussing draft mineral resources agreement in detail

According to an unnamed source in the President's Office, the conversation took place on March 28, with ongoing work between legal teams.

"Ukraine is ready to continue working on the agreement," the source stated.

On March 31, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would face "big, big problems" if he rejected the mineral resources deal. 

The Ukrainian leader has maintained that Kyiv will not recognize previous U.S. military aid as debt.

The rare-earth mineral resources agreement between Ukraine and the United States

Ukraine and the United States were supposed to sign a framework agreement on rare earth metals on Feb. 28. The document outlined the obligation to start negotiations with the United States on a second, more detailed agreement that would govern the operations of the Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund – a bilateral structure that Ukraine and the United States were to create, with Ukraine contributing 50% of future income from new mineral development. However, the agreement was not to cover the current income of Ukrainian gas companies - Naftogaz and Ukrnafta.

The signing of the agreement was canceled on Feb. 28 after a dispute between Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, U.S. President Trump, and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance at the White House.

On March 3, President Zelenskyy said that Kyiv was ready to sign the agreement with the US on minerals, provided that both sides were mutually prepared and took Ukraine's position into account.

Later, Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, after talks with Zelenskyy and Head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak, commented that the United States and Ukraine will sign the critical minerals agreement in the shortest possible time.

On March 11, the President’s Office announced that Ukraine and the United States had agreed to finalize the comprehensive agreement on critical mineral resources "as soon as possible."

On March 26, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reported that the U.S. government had prepared a "full" version of the mineral resources agreement, which could be signed as early as next week.

On March 27, Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak announced that the U.S. side had handed Ukraine a new draft mineral resources agreement, which must be ratified by the Verkhovna Rada. The agreement, dated March 23, allegedly covers U.S. access to all minerals throughout Ukraine, including current and future developments.

On March 27, Zelenskyy noted the constantly changing terms of the agreement.

On March 28, The Times analyzed the new draft, describing it as an attempt by the Trump administration to gain control over Ukraine's natural resources in exchange for mediation in the conflict.