U.S. and Ukraine signed a joint fund deal for reconstruction, granting U.S. investment access while Ukraine retains resource ownership.

The United States and Ukraine have signed an agreement to establish a "reconstruction investment" fund, as confirmed by both governments on Wednesday in Washington.

While the United States has yet to disclose the specific terms of the agreement, it is widely believed that the deal grants Washington privileged access to Ukrainian resources deemed essential for high-tech industries.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko emphasized that, under the agreement, Ukraine would retain full ownership of all its mineral resources. This assurance aims to allay concerns over foreign control of strategic assets.

In an interview with NewsNation on Wednesday evening, former President Donald Trump commented on the deal, stating that, "in theory," it ensures the U.S. receives more from Ukraine than it has contributed. “I wanted to be protected,” he said, expressing a desire to avoid appearing “foolish” for not securing returns on U.S. aid provided to Ukraine.

Svyrydenko, who signed the agreement in Washington, said the fund would be jointly managed by both nations. In a post on social media platform X, she wrote: “It is the Ukrainian state that determines what and where to extract.” She further clarified that “neither side will hold a dominant vote — a reflection of equal partnership between our two nations.”

U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent also weighed in on the agreement, underscoring America's commitment to supporting Ukraine’s path to peace in the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2023. “This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump Administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term,” Bessent stated.

According to a statement on the U.S. Treasury’s website, the economic partnership will enable both nations “to work collaboratively and invest together to ensure that our mutual assets, talents, and capabilities can accelerate Ukraine’s economic recovery.”

Since his return to office in January 2025, President Donald Trump has pushed for an end to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. However, he has also voiced dissatisfaction with what he perceives as insufficient compensation from Kyiv for the military and financial support provided by the United States. Trump has insisted that Washington should receive greater returns from its involvement.

“President Trump envisioned this partnership between the American people and the Ukrainian people to show both sides' commitment to lasting peace and prosperity in Ukraine,” Bessent remarked.

He added, “And to be clear, no state or person who financed or supplied the Russian war machine will be allowed to benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine.”

Despite the fanfare surrounding the agreement, it must still be ratified by the Ukrainian parliament before it can officially come into effect.

Notably, negotiations nearly fell apart earlier in the year following a historic confrontation at the White House between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Trump in February.