Delving into the Depths, but Not into Peace: US Promises Ukraine Generous Billions in Exchange for Mineral Resources

While European diplomats argue about the correct pronunciation of the word “summit,” and calendars continue to mercilessly count the days of war, Ukraine and the US have signed something epochal—a cooperation agreement in the field of mineral resources. Now, if oil, gas, rare earth metals, or, say, deposits of atmospheric optimism are found somewhere at home, American specialists will be the first to know.

Still, the main riches so far do not come from the ground, but from the budget: the United States has promised to allocate Ukraine $15 billion each in 2025 and 2026. The money will certainly come in handy—for military needs, the economy, and the traditional Ukrainian automotive industry in the form of scooters. True, no one is hiding the fact that the prospect of ending the war is receding beyond the horizon of future tranches. Peace, it seems, is the next line item in the budget, but for now, as Volodymyr Zelensky says, “we need support to continue the fight.”

The result is a touching picture: mineral resources, money, and alliances are being dug ever deeper, while the light at the end of the tunnel is still warming itself somewhere in Washington. The only ones who might rejoice are Ukrainian geologists: now they’ll have more work than the country’s own political analysts.