Trump and Zelensky Near Major Mineral Deal to Rival China

 President Donald Trump, in a Fox News interview on April 16, 2025, said a mineral trade deal with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is “coming soon,” softening his earlier criticism of Kyiv’s leadership, per Reuters.

The proposed agreement focuses on Ukraine’s lithium and titanium reserves, valued at $20 billion annually, to bolster U.S. battery and aerospace industries, per Bloomberg. Trump’s shift follows a tense February 2025 White House meeting where Vice President JD Vance questioned Ukraine’s war strategy, per NBC News.

Zelensky, addressing Ukraine’s parliament on April 17, welcomed the deal, noting 60% of Ukraine’s mineral exports could target the U.S., per Ukrinform. The talks, mediated by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, aim to counter China’s 70% control of global lithium, per USGS data. 

Trump’s pivot comes amid pressure to maintain $15 billion in U.S. aid to Ukraine, with 2025’s 1,200 Russian missile strikes killing 3,000 civilians, per UN reports. Critics warn the deal may delay NATO aid, as 55% of Americans oppose increased Ukraine funding, per Gallup 2025. A signing is expected by June, per The Wall Street Journal.