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President Trump just gave the green light to protect Ukraine at any and all costs, but secretly it’s not just Ukraine the US is protecting but the newfound mineral wealth of over 12 trillion dollars, of which half belongs to the United States!  The new U.S.-Ukraine mineral agreement opens the door for America to protect its assets against Russian aggression at all costs!

But it doesn’t stop there! The US has also grabbed the full reconstruction of Ukraine, its cities, communities, farmlands, and military, which could add up to a whopping 4 trillion dollars! Bingo!

This landmark move with sweeping geopolitical implications, Ukraine has officially signed a mineral rights agreement with the United States under the Trump administration, laying the foundation not only for reconstruction and investment but also for the legal and political framework that embeds the U.S.'s direct involvement in defending its economic interests on Ukrainian soil.

Dubbed the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, the deal grants the U.S. a 50% stake in Ukraine's lucrative mineral sector in exchange for future military aid and American-led reconstruction support. The agreement represents more than just economic cooperation; it has become a signal to Moscow that the U.S. now has formal standing to defend these interests, potentially "by any means the President believes is necessary," as one Ukrainian official put it.

Ukraine is considered one of the most mineral-rich countries in Europe, and its estimated mineral wealth is valued at over $12 trillion, according to multiple assessments, including those by the Ukrainian government and international analysts.

Key figures of the immense mineral wealth of Ukraine, which does not include the reconstruction assets, are presented.

- Total estimated value: $12–15 trillion USD

- Key resources:

  - Iron ore: 6th largest reserves in the world (~30 billion tons)

  - Coal: ~34 billion tons of reserves

  - Manganese: One of the largest global reserves

  - Lithium: Significant unexploited deposits, vital for EV batteries

  - Titanium: Among the top global reserves

  - Uranium: Used domestically for nuclear power

  - Natural gas (shale): Major untapped reserves in eastern and western basins

  - Rare earth elements: Increasing global strategic interest, especially for electronics and defense tech

Ukraine's Donbas region, currently contested in the war, contains a large share of its coal and metal ores. Meanwhile, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kirovohrad regions are rich in titanium, lithium, and uranium—materials of high strategic importance to the U.S., EU, and China.

Control over these assets isn’t just an economic question; it’s a strategic and geopolitical issue, which is why foreign contracts (like the recent U.S.-Ukraine mineral agreement) could act as levers for international involvement.

“Today’s agreement signals clearly to Russian leadership that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term,” said U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Today, Stephen Eichler, JD, a retired international attorney and active member of the International Bar Association, said this:

“Under established principles of international law, the United States retains the right to protect its contractual and investment interests abroad, particularly where such interests are imperiled by acts of foreign aggression, armed conflict, or occupation. This protection is grounded in multiple legal frameworks.

First, under applicable Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), U.S. investors are afforded protection against expropriation without just compensation and are entitled to pursue remedies through international arbitration mechanisms.

Second, pursuant to the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC), including the Geneva Conventions and the Hague Regulations of 1907, civilian property, including foreign-held investments, is shielded from unlawful seizure during periods of armed hostilities or military occupation.

Additionally, the United States possesses inherent sovereign authority under domestic law to defend its overseas economic interests, particularly where such interests are connected to national security considerations or formal treaty obligations.”   Stephen Eichler, JD. April 30th, 2025

The newly signed deal, which includes a 50/50 revenue split from mineral extraction and a guarantee of future U.S. military support, including air defense, now gives Washington a clear contractual stake in Ukraine’s resource infrastructure.

According to analysts, this agreement could provide the legal and political cover necessary for a more assertive U.S. posture in Ukraine, including potential military responses to protect its mineral interests if Russian forces continue advancing into resource-rich areas.

Vladimir Putin should have made a deal a few weeks ago; now he probably can’t! Under existing frameworks of international and domestic law, the U.S. government could view any Russian aggression against mineral-rich regions of Ukraine as a direct threat to American investments,” said a former Pentagon legal adviser. “This wouldn't automatically justify armed response, but it would significantly strengthen the President’s hand in arguing for it, especially if American lives, contracts, or reconstruction infrastructure are at risk.

The agreement arrives as diplomatic overtures between Russia and Ukraine continue to stumble. Hours before the signing, the Kremlin urged Kyiv to resume direct talks, a signal perhaps that Moscow is wary of escalating tensions with a now-contractually involved United States.

Following weeks of negotiation complicated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s initial refusal to sign the deal, it was finalized without his direct involvement. Ukrainian negotiators agreed to the terms in mid-April, securing American investment but conceding significant control over future military aid and revenue streams.

The agreement legitimizes the protection of U.S. assets under a wider interpretation of both international investment law and national defense doctrines. Should Russia seize or sabotage areas tied to U.S. mineral operations, Washington could argue that it is defending American economic interests under both domestic authority and international norms.

Final Word: By a stroke of a pen, the US just became 7 trillion dollars richer and paved a pathway to peace in Ukraine while showing Russia the door!

• Stephen Eichler, JD, is a retired international attorney and active member of the International Bar Association, having specialized in arbitration, mediation, and dispute resolution.