In an op-ed for the Financial Times, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stressed the importance of strengthening economic ties between the United States and Ukraine, specifically through a potential minerals agreement. According to Bessent, such a partnership would send a clear signal to Russia that Washington is investing in a free and sovereign Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the New York Times reported on Saturday that the latest proposal for U.S. participation in Ukraine’s mineral and natural resource revenues appears even more stringent than a previous version that Kyiv had rejected. The earlier plan would have transferred half of the future revenues from exploiting all natural resources in Ukraine to the United States.
President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, argued that the United States and its taxpayers deserve a return on the financial and military assistance given to Kyiv. Waltz added that the proposal could be a significant opportunity for Ukraine, which he says needs American investments to fully leverage its resource deposits.
During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” host Chuck Todd asked Polish politician Mateusz Morawiecki if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should accept the deal. Morawiecki responded emphatically:
“Of course he should. I completely agree with President Trump, because I believe President Zelensky needs to understand that the United States has to be involved in Ukraine’s affairs. And the best way to connect Ukraine with the US is through business—especially when it comes to rare earth metals, which are a key industry for the United States.”
Morawiecki, who also heads the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, went on to address the ongoing conflict on Ukrainian soil and the efforts to secure peace:
“For me, and for Poland, the most important thing is Ukraine’s sovereign existence after the war. However, I do have my own reservations about how President Zelensky treated us in 2023, despite all the military and logistical support we provided.”
He also noted Zelensky’s role in previous discussions with the European Commission and former Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk:
“He was part of agreements with the European Commission and my successor, Prime Minister Tusk. But I’m not going to focus on that—what matters is peace.”
The comments reflect ongoing debate over the best route to ensure Ukraine’s long-term security and economic stability. While some see large-scale American investment—particularly in Ukraine’s natural resource sector—as a crucial step, critics worry about the extent of U.S. influence and the potential financial burden on Ukraine.
Negotiations on the proposed U.S.-Ukraine resource deal are ongoing, and Ukrainian officials have not yet publicly stated their position on the revised terms. However, as discussions continue, many observers are watching closely to see if Ukraine’s leadership will ultimately agree to the plan—and how it will shape the country’s post-war economic future.