Russia offered U.S. a deal for minerals in Ukrainian territory it seized
Russian officials proposed to Trump administration officials an agreement for the U.S. to make money off critical minerals and metals under Moscow’s control.
Russia has proposed to the Trump administration a potential agreement under which the United States would gain some ownership of rare earth minerals and other valuable metals in parts of Ukraine controlled by the Russian military, according to two U.S. officials familiar with intelligence on the matter and another person briefed on the proposal.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent previously presented Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with a similar deal, which Zelenskyy initially rejected, frustrating President Donald Trump.
Top aides to Russian President Vladimir Putin floated Russia’s idea with Trump administration officials last week at a meeting in Saudi Arabia, the U.S. officials and the person briefed on the proposal said.
The options Russia had specifically prepared to discuss with U.S. officials included scenarios that could give the Trump administration access to minerals in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, both of which Russia declared it had annexed in 2022, the two U.S. officials said.
The Trump administration has not committed to a U.S.-Russia deal on rare earth minerals but has not ruled it out, the U.S. officials and the person briefed on the proposal said.
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