Concerns Over Trump-Zelensky Minerals Deal and its Impact on UK Interests
Donald Trump’s recent minerals agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky raises significant concerns about the potential implications for the United Kingdom’s interests in exploring opportunities within Ukraine’s natural resources. In January, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and President Zelensky formalized a 100-year partnership that aims to enhance cooperation between their two nations across various domains, including defense, security, culture, and sports.
This pivotal agreement encompasses a clause dedicated to minerals, proposing the establishment of a joint working group designed to optimize the benefits derived from Ukraine’s abundant natural resources. Moreover, it pledges to support the formulation of a comprehensive Ukrainian critical minerals strategy. However, the newly anticipated US-Ukraine deal, expected to be finalized during Zelensky’s upcoming visit to Washington, is reported to grant the United States extensive access to Ukraine’s mineral wealth in exchange for investments aimed at rebuilding infrastructure after the war, which raises alarms regarding the potential sidelining of British interests.
This clash of interests has surfaced amidst pivotal discussions as Trump hosted Starmer at the White House, where they deliberated on crucial issues concerning Ukraine, trade, and global security. The Ukrainian government has indicated that half of the revenues generated from future state-owned natural resource projects will be directed into a joint reconstruction investment fund between the United States and Ukraine. When questioned by The i Paper regarding the potential impact of the Trump-Zelensky agreement on the UK’s own minerals agreement, the Foreign Office refrained from providing a definitive response, emphasizing its focus on supporting measures that would contribute to ending the war.
However, it has come to light that Foreign Secretary David Lammy recently engaged in discussions with Zelensky concerning minerals during his visit to Kyiv last week. This indicates that Starmer’s government remains eager to secure access to Ukraine’s valuable resources. Labour MP Stella Creasy articulated her concerns, stating, “Given the importance of our 100-year partnership with Ukraine to the security of our continent and the explicit commitment it contains to a critical minerals strategy, the Government must clarify whether our existing deal has been compromised by what is being negotiated with America and how we will ensure that these vital resources are not siphoned away at a cost to our national security.”
The pressing need for governments to meet their net-zero commitments, coupled with escalating global insecurity, has ignited a worldwide race for natural resources critical to both the green transition—such as batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and solar panels—and the defense sector. It is estimated that Ukraine possesses approximately 5 percent of the world’s critical raw materials, including but not limited to graphite, titanium, lithium, beryllium, uranium, copper, lead, zinc, silver, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements essential for wind turbines, military applications, and electronics.
The 100-year partnership between the UK and Ukraine is structured around nine key pillars, which include:
- Defense
- Security
- Maritime
- Economy and Trade
- Energy and Climate
- Justice
- Hostile State Interference
- Science and Technology
- Culture and Sport
Under the energy and climate pillar, both nations have committed to supporting the development of a Ukrainian critical minerals strategy and the regulatory frameworks necessary to maximize benefits from Ukraine’s natural resources, potentially through the establishment of a Joint Working Group. This legally binding agreement is effective for 100 years, with provisions that can be amended at any time upon mutual consent. Any disputes regarding the interpretation of the agreement will be resolved through consultations between both governments, and either party can terminate the agreement with six months’ written notice.
In a recent session of the House of Commons, Lammy characterized the 100-year partnership as a “unique document, not only in our history and Ukraine’s history but in the history of the world,” asserting that it provides a robust framework for fostering relationships across multiple fronts. He emphasized that this collaboration “will yield substantial benefits for British businesses in the coming years, while simultaneously providing significant opportunities for Ukrainian enterprises, from which we will draw insights from their innovations.”
The Foreign Office has declined to comment on whether the US minerals deal will affect the UK’s prospects related to the 100-year partnership. However, they highlighted that Defence Secretary John Healey welcomed the US minerals agreement, stating that “anything that binds the US more closely into the future of Ukraine, reinforcing the President’s commitment to achieving a durable peace that deters Russia in the long term, is a positive step.”
As speculation arises regarding France’s interest in securing a deal with Ukraine, Downing Street was queried about the UK’s intentions to pursue a similar agreement. A spokesperson remarked, “Regarding the minerals, that is evidently a matter for the US and Ukraine.” They reiterated that the 100-year partnership represents “a unique document centered around British businesses, British industry, defense capabilities, drone technology, and people-to-people interactions over the next century.” They concluded by stating, “Ultimately, if US interests are established in Ukraine, that serves as the most effective security guarantee for the Ukrainians.”
