Donald Trump has made a dramatic U-turn on his stance on the Ukraine-Russia war after he acknowledged Russia's “full-scale invasion” of Ukraine for the first time in his presidency as part of his newly agreed minerals deal with Kyiv.
The crucial deal comes after months of negotiations in a major breakthrough for peace in Europe.
It is set to grant the US special access to new investment projects to develop Ukraine's natural resources - including aluminum, graphite, oil and natural gas.
A leaked document seen by The Telegraph detailing the agreement states: “The United States of America has provided significant financial and material support to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion.”
The deal is set to grant the US special access to new investment projects to develop Ukraine's natural resources
REUTERSThe recognition will be seen as a win for Kyiv, which has demanded that more pressure be placed on Putin during possible ceasefire talks between Moscow and Washington.
It also signifies a U-turn in Trump’s perspective of the war, which he had previously called “the Russia-Ukraine conflict”, abstaining from placing blame on Moscow.
Volodymyr Zelensky has praised the deal as being equal and fair, and that it will pave the way for the modernisation of industries in Ukraine.
“This agreement is a win-win and it is written in friendly language. It is about investments, investments and investments,” said Taras Kachka, Ukraine’s deputy minister for Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture.
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Trump previously called it 'the Russia-Ukraine conflict', abstaining from placing blame on Moscow
ReutersInitial efforts to sign a deal had crumbled in February after Zelensky's confrontation with JD Vance and Trump in the Oval Office.
But the two countries' presidents Trump and Zelensky, met at the Vatican ahead of Pope Francis's funeral just days ago.
And now, the deal, which Trump has been pushing hard for, has been signed.
In a statement, the US Treasury Department added in a press release that “no state or person who financed or supplied the Russian war machine will be allowed to benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine”.
Trump and Zelensky met at the Vatican ahead of Pope Francis's funeral just days ago
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US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a video statement that the agreement would help “unlock Ukraine's growth assets”.
Discussing the deal on GB News, US Correspondent Sara Firth claimed that the US is using “resource diplomacy” and Trump is “turning his investment” in Ukraine.
She explained: “This is Washington quite literally turning its investment in Ukraine material. They've signed this landmark deal for joint access to some of Ukraine's rare minerals. So things like graphite, titanium and lithium, amongst many other things.
“This is resource diplomacy. The US are trying to counter China's dominance in this area when it comes to rare earth minerals. And Ukraine, for its part, is seeing this as potential security with the US having business interests in Ukraine whilst Russia is attacking us, but also hoping that it will secure longer-term US military assistance.”
