Trump Urges Ukraine to ‘Immediately’ Sign Critical Minerals Deal

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday called on Ukraine to “immediately” sign a strategic agreement granting the United States access to the country’s critical mineral reserves.

Posting on his official Truth Social account, Trump criticized the pace of negotiations, stating that the deal was already “three weeks overdue.” He also claimed that peace talks between Ukraine and Russia were “progressing smoothly” and expressed optimism about achieving “positive results soon.”

The proposed agreement is expected to provide U.S. companies with rights to explore and extract rare earth elements and other essential minerals in Ukraine — resources seen as crucial for defense, clean energy, and technology sectors.

Ukrainian officials have yet to respond publicly to Trump’s remarks. However, sources close to Kyiv say the government is still assessing the deal’s long-term implications and is seeking firm security guarantees before moving forward. President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously stressed that any international partnership must fully respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and economic independence.

Trump’s public pressure on Kyiv has sparked debate in Washington. Some lawmakers worry that pushing Ukraine too hard could weaken its negotiating position with Russia and undermine the U.S.’s broader diplomatic standing.