The United States Wants To Control Ukraine Minerals Without Limits, President Zelenskyy Confused

JAKARTA - US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who visited Kyiv last week, only gave Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy one hour to consider an agreement that would provide the United States with unlimited access to Ukraine's mineral wealth.

This was reported by The Economist by quoting a source familiar with the negotiations.

According to the report, Zelenskyy initially hoped Bessent would discuss sustainable financial support for Ukraine.

However, instead of talks about financial assistance, he was presented with a memorandum demanding the right to all Ukrainian mineral resources, the Economist said.

As reported by ANTARA from Sputnik-OANA, Monday, February 17, the Ukrainian president rejected the proposal and postponed further discussions to the Munich Security Conference, which took place in Germany on February 14-16.

Media reported on Sunday (16/2), citing a number of sources, that Washington had offered a deal granting US access to Ukraine's rare minerals in exchange for military aid that had been sent to Kyiv.

The document does not include additional military support.

On February 3, US President Donald Trump said Washington expected assurances from Ukraine to provide access to rare earth metals in exchange for financial and military assistance.

The Financial Times, citing a source close to the United States, Zelenskyy, also reported that Ukraine is considering the possibility of handing over the resources to the US as part of an aid deal.