After months of intense negotiations, Ukraine and the US have finally reached a large-scale mining agreement. The deal also opens up a new approach to help Ukraine resumed arms deals with the US - which have been stalled since the Trump administration returned to the White House.
The Guardian reported that in a statement on the evening of May 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the deal "the first historic result" from a private meeting between him and President Trump at the sidelines of the papal funeral in the Vatican last week.
The deal was signed by Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. According to the agreement, the US and Ukraine will jointly establish a mutual investment fund, with capital drawn from the issuance of new licenses for the exploitation of strategic minerals, oil and gas mines in Ukraine.
This fund is expected to become a key financial channel to support infrastructure reconstruction, enhance energy security and expand investment cooperation between the two countries in areas of geopolitical value.
Immediately after the deal, the Trump administration approved a license to export over $50 million worth of defense equipment and services to Ukraine - a move seen as a "calm signal" after a long period of tensions.
This is the first time Washington has lit the green light for a major arms deal with Kiev since President Trump reappointed.
The deal does not directly stipulate which weapons will be provided, but it is clearly opened to parallel discussions on arms trading, said senior adviser to the Ukrainian president, Mykhailo Podolyak. He affirmed that the US side is now ready for these negotiations.
However, unlike before when the arms were provided for free, Kiev will have to pay for them.
That would force the Ukrainian government to make a western choice, focusing on special weapons that only the US produces, Mr. Podolyak said.
As for equipment such as drones or low-altitude weapons, Ukraine can completely develop and produce in the country, in order to save costs.
An interesting point shared by Mr. Podolyak is that although the US side may seem "hard-line" in the media, the actual atmosphere in the negotiation rounds is very professional and open.
He commented that the style of the Trump administration is to regularly release speculative information or strict conditions to create negotiating advantages, but when entering the meeting room, they are ready to adjust to get to real results.
