2025, April 29 - April 30

After months of tense negotiations, the US has agreed to a deal with Ukraine for the cooperative exploitation of its mineral and energy resources, according to BBC News. In order to hasten Ukraine's economic recovery from its conflict with Russia, the two nations have agreed to set up a rehabilitation investment fund. It demonstrated both parties' commitment to long-term stability and prosperity in Ukraine, according to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The agreement is considered by Kyiv as crucial to obtaining US military assistance. Large quantities of vital minerals like lithium, titanium, and graphite are thought to exist in Ukraine. Because of their applications in industrial infrastructure, the military, and renewable energy, they are in great demand. The purchase is made under the context of a US-China trade war, where 90% of the world's current rare-earth reserves are mined. The newly created US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund acknowledges the "substantial financial and material assistance" that the US has granted Ukraine since it was invaded by Russia in February 2022, as stated in the US Treasury announcement on Wednesday afternoon.