The Kremlin has lashed out at President Donald Trump’s newly signed mineral agreement with Ukraine, dismissing it as a desperate and hollow gesture that will do little to change the course of the conflict. Russian officials ridiculed the deal and predicted Ukraine’s eventual disappearance as an independent nation.
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, accused Trump of forcing Ukraine to repay U.S. military aid by surrendering its valuable mineral resources. He mocked the agreement as an arrangement with a country “about to vanish,” suggesting that Ukraine’s mineral wealth is now being traded in exchange for Western weapons.
The controversial deal, signed on April 30, established a joint U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund. Under the agreement, profits from Ukraine’s critical minerals—including lithium, titanium, and rare earth elements—will be shared between the two countries, with Ukraine pledging to reinvest its earnings in defense and reconstruction.
While U.S. officials have praised the deal as a way to support Ukraine without additional taxpayer burden, Moscow claims the move exploits Ukraine’s weakened position and further entrenches foreign control over its economy.
Inside Ukraine, the pact has sparked a mix of support and concern. Some leaders welcome the economic boost and long-term infrastructure potential, while others warn it could compromise national sovereignty. A vote in Ukraine’s parliament is expected in the coming weeks.
As tensions between Russia and the West escalate, the mineral deal highlights the deepening rift—and the growing role of economic leverage—in the struggle over Ukraine’s future.