Trump Announces Rare Earths Deal with Ukraine “Very Shortly”

President Donald Trump announced Thursday that his administration is poised to sign a rare earths deal with Ukraine “very shortly,” signaling a renewed push to secure access to critical minerals after previously invoking wartime powers to boost domestic production, Al Jazeera reports.

Speaking at the White House, Trump stated that the administration is forging agreements in “various locations” to secure access to rare earth minerals, essential components in the manufacturing of electronics, batteries, and magnets. These remarks followed the signing of an executive order directing federal agencies to identify mines and government-owned land that could be utilized to increase the production of these critical resources.

The executive order invokes the Defense Production Act, a law dating back to the Korean War that empowers Washington to mobilize industrial resources in the interest of national security.

Negotiations for a US-Ukraine deal granting Washington access to Kyiv’s natural resources were previously stalled following a public disagreement between Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky last month.

Despite the tensions, Zelensky stated earlier this month that his government remained “ready to sign” a rare earths deal, emphasizing the importance of having the “Ukrainian position to be heard.”

Trump has reportedly been pressing Kyiv to grant Washington access to its natural resources as part of his administration’s efforts to broker a swift end to the war in Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Zelensky announced that Kyiv had agreed to a US proposal to pause attacks on energy infrastructure, a plan also accepted by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In his remarks at the White House, Trump described his administration’s efforts to reach a peace deal as progressing “pretty well.”