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LAST UPDATE | 1 May
THE US IS moving “at full speed” to implement the newly agreed minerals deal with Ukraine.
Ukraine and the US signed the deal after a two-month delay, in what President Donald Trump’s administration called a new form of US commitment to Kyiv after the end of military aid.
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller has said today that the US is moving “as fast as we possibly can” on implementing the newly agreed mineral deal with Ukraine.
“We are moving at full speed,” Miller told a media briefing in the White House.
“It’s meant to pay back the United States – this is the key point – for the hundreds of billions of dollars our taxpayers have spent subsidising the war in Ukraine.”
Trump had initially demanded rights to Ukraine’s mineral wealth as compensation for US weapons sent under former president Joe Biden since Russia invaded just over three years ago.
After initial hesitation, Ukraine has accepted a minerals accord as a way to secure long-term investment by the United States, as Trump tries to drastically scale back US security commitments around the world.
Ukraine said it secured key interests after protracted negotiations, including full sovereignty over its own rare earths, which are vital for new technologies and largely untapped.
Announcing the deal in Washington, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said it showed “both sides’ commitment to lasting peace and prosperity in Ukraine.”
“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 said.
“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.”
The Treasury statement notably mentioned Russia’s “full-scale invasion” of Ukraine — diverging from the Trump administration’s usual formulation of a “conflict” for which Kyiv bears a large degree of responsibility.
In Kyiv, Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said the agreement was “good, equal and beneficial.”
Shmygal said the two countries would establish a Reconstruction Investment Fund with each side having equal voting rights and Ukraine would retain “full control over its subsoil, infrastructure and natural resources.”
Meeting a key concern for Kyiv, he said Ukraine would not be asked to pay back any “debt” for billions of dollars in US support since Russia invaded in February 2022.
“The fund’s profits will be reinvested exclusively in Ukraine,” he said.
Downing Street welcomed the economic deal signed by Ukraine and the US.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said this afternoon:
“We obviously welcome steps taken by the US and Ukraine to sign an economic partnership.
“We have our own 100-year partnership which the Prime Minister signed in January with Ukraine and we’re continuing to work with Ukraine to deepen our economic and security ties for future generations of both of our countries.”
Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said the deal would finance mineral and oil and gas projects as well as “related infrastructure or processing.”
Trump had originally sought $500 billion in mineral wealth – around four times what the United States has contributed to Ukraine since the war.
Trump has balked at offering security guarantees to Ukraine and has rejected its aspiration to join NATO. But he said yesterday that a US presence on the ground would benefit Ukraine.
“The American presence will, I think, keep a lot of bad actors out of the country or certainly out of the area where we’re doing the digging,” Trump said at a cabinet meeting.
Speaking later at a town hall with NewsNation, Trump said he told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a recent meeting at the Vatican that signing the deal would be a “very good thing” because “Russia is much bigger and much stronger.”
Asked whether the minerals deal is going to “inhibit” Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Trump said “well, it could.”
The UK’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs David Lammy has said that their support for Ukraine remains “steadfast” as he welcomed the deal.
The UK welcomes steps taken by the US and Ukraine to sign an economic partnership.
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) April 30, 2025
The UK’s support for Ukraine remains steadfast. With our 100-year partnership, we are deepening economic and security ties for the future generations of both of our countries.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday threatened giving up on mediation unless the two sides come forward with “concrete proposals.”
Since starting his second term, Trump has pressed for a settlement in which Ukraine would give up some territory seized by Russia, which has rejected US-backed overtures for a ceasefire of at least 30 days.
Backed by the international community, Zelenskyy has ruled out any formal concession to Russia of Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula seized in 2014.
But he has taken care to voice support for Trump’s diplomacy after a disastrous 28 February White House meeting where Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated him for allegedly being ungrateful for US assistance.
Ukraine holds some 55 of the world’s mineral resources and rare earths, according to various estimates. But work has not yet started on tapping many of the resources and many sites are in territory now controlled by Russian forces.
Notably, Ukraine has around 20% of the world’s graphite, an essential material for electric batteries, according to France’s Bureau of Geological and Mining Research.
Ukraine is also a major producer of manganese and titanium, and says it possesses the largest lithium deposits in Europe.
With reporting by Eoghan Dalton
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Then they’ll meet him for a pint, slap him on the back and say “Sorry bud, but you know we had to do it. Optics and all that”.
They are far beyond the point where gestures like this can have any meaning.
Very true Katherine. In my mind FF have no longer any logical mandate as a party.
FF should disband now – corruption goes to its very core.
The people could have disbanded FF in one general and one local election if they wanted, starting last Feb, but look what happened. Alas, some sheeple never learn.
Great . What about Pee Flynn, Albert Reynolds , biffo, and the rest ? Of and you too Mícheál. FF disbanded.
Adrian not as dumb as ff’ers
Don’t forget the other waster who wanted to be president, disband the toxic party and burn them bastard bond holders so they never gamble away other people’s money again!
dont stop there,, he should be done for treason
Yes . Treason is the only answer.
Load of rubbish. Too late. Every senior member of FF and that includes you Martin knew what was going on for years. You are fooling no one with this proposal of kicking him out. FF were and still are now a disgrace.
You are so right!
Interesting generalisation from someone without facts to back it up,an endearing Irish trait , ur aptly named.
Bertie won’t give a fiddlers. He has his pension and his appearance fees. He’s laughing all the way to the bank… oh wait a minute?
Probably not an Irish bank, though.
Appearance fees I imagine is gone as who or what want to be associated with the lying two faced prick !!!!!
If they don’t throw him out now they condone all the lies and corruption that has gone on in the FF party !!! And therefore should disband !!! Oh and take back his pig fat pension and make the lying snake pay what’s owed to the tax man on that €165,000 Gift !!’
That a Japanese spitz?
Tom Gilmartin was found by the most part to be a believable witness, How is Michael Martin going to explain now the 5000 grand that was given to him by Gilmartin and put into his wife’s account. The ” that was the way it was done” excuse isn’t going to wash anymore.
Its amazing that Martin feels he has no case to answer as he sat as a senior minister in Bertie’s government.
The whole party is engulfed in this corruption – that why they should disband. Never forget, never forgive.
True David but FG aren’t without sin either.This report has done alot to destroy what little trust the Irish people still had in politicans.Time for FG to kick out a few members if they haven’t already,Labour have a few skeletons also.Jail is the best place for these scumbags then seize the money that bought their votes.
If the Fianna Fail party disband I’m having a Project X style party and everyone who’s unemployed is invited…
Please can I come along too? Am working but I hate the bastards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Instead of bitching about it, and suggestign there is no alternative to FF other than than SF…. Start your own party!!!!!!!!! I will watch this space ;)
Hi Cal I never suggested there was no alternative to Fianna Fail and no one mentioned Sinn Fein.
“Project X” is a film about a house party. That is what I would have if they disbanded, a house party.
Susie, I feel ur pain but Brian Cowan cannot b mentioned in the same breath as those people, he was not under investigation and u won’t find a hint of corruption connected to him. I am sure he is as hurt and embarrassed by theese people as the rest of us, more probably.
Boll!x. He was a very senior member of FF. he knew exactly what was going on and kept quiet or tried to brush it under the carpet. He is as guilty as bertie.
Brian ‘the jowls’ Cowan was at it like the rest of them, only he never got caught out. ! FF are rotten and I mean ROTTEN to the very core!
Careful now Gerry campbell….
I did not say Brian Cowen , …….. Biffo is what I said , funny that you assumed B. Cowen :)
Do they think the irish people were born yesterday? If there was any truth or conviction behind their words they would take away his €2800 a week pension and replace it with state pension rates. Them throw him in jail. Couldn’t agree more with begrudgery, it’s not like any of this is new ground breaking news, every one of them knew what was going on and are equally as guilty for turning a blind eye.
Yes they do think we were born yesterday and we prove it everyday by sitting on our holes doing nothing.
Unbecoming of a member of Fianna Fail… cos he was caught?
Ahearns Conduct was unbecoming of the dogs in the street
Even a cursory review of this party’s history would suggest that Bertie Ahern’s conduct was entirely becoming of a FF leader/member. Just saying.
In 2007 all of FF were behind Bertie backing him up and dismissing the tribunal and their questioning, why? Because he was electoral asset, no he is a major liability and they are dropping him like a hot snot and cant get far enough away from him.
Politics is all about getting elected and then re-elected. Chameleons the lot of them
Big change from Micheal Martin compared to his very strong support for Bertie during the tribunal. God they are great at changing to whatever way the wind blows. If he wants to be in anyway serious he should STOP THE CORRUPT MINISTERIAL PENSIONS – NOW!!!!!
Conduct unbecoming? Will someone tell me please what could anyone possibly do in FF that could be regarded as unbecoming by their standards..?
Get caught?
:) :) :)
@ Enda McCabe – Classic!
Oh look, there’s the horse over on the far hill, shut the doors anyway. Pack of gobsh1tes.
This country was builted with brown envelopes, so bloody what.
So bloody what?. I’ll tell you. People are starving!. That’s so what. People are under enormous stress and are afraid of losing their homes, that’s what. And if the point was not made clear enough for you, people are committing suicide.! Now, do you get it?.
FF disbanded thank u …
Roll on the revolution. A lot these Fianna Fáil boyo’s will be in Gulags for their crimes
Oh now I get it… ‘unbecoming’ is another word for ‘typical’
No revolution here !!!! People are not eating grass on the side of the road “YET”. There’s one thing for sure. Fianna Failure are finished for good. Good riddens!!!!!
Exactly paddy! God speed the day!!!!let justice prevail! Can’t wait for the day when someone dances on Bertie’s grave! Like haughy!
love the way everyone has tunnel vision blame FF for everything now let’s rewind… the mahon report names a lot of FG corruption why are u guys not calling for their heads… the current gov are liars cheats and more corrupt than FF… SO CMO N LET’S CALL A SPADE A SPADE AND GET THEM OUT
Exactly Martin, the tribunal’s report doesn’t find Ahern guilty of corruption, something it does of many FF/FG/LAB councillors. They are all as bad as one another but the government are only too happy to let the media go after Ahern while keeping stum about their many sinners.
I think if these guys are brought yo the courts they should loose all pay related to their political careers. This is treason!
Why don’t a go one step further and expel him from the country. My fear is that he will be send to jail for tax avoidance, ending up choosing the tax payer more money.
His behavior is FF to its core. Haughey sowed the seeds, Bertie followed through.
The bigger issue here is that the body politic is a shambles, the civil servants have the real power and the people are suffering now because another corrupt institution EU/ECB has Ireland on its knees.
Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. FG is next.
Does anyone know if they get to keep their pensions after being expelled?
just going on from what “bua” said. Although Bertie wad cleared and is said to have done nothing illegal what about Phadraig Flynn will they strip him off his pensions or will they let him go
Does anyone know if they get to keep their pensions is expelled?
Yes, of course. If only it were that easy…
Oh you can be sure they will all keep their lavish pensions.All their pensions should be . stopped.Anyone convicted of dishonest conduct should pay the price.Why does the CAB not arrest bertie.They would if it was me or you.
Nice one susie, and that Adrian should apologise to you, too no nee for rudeness
Gerry campbell
What are you talking about , make sense man . … !
And why can’t you put your comment under my name ? I would have been able to respond to it sooner :)
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