Trump’s undercover deal to seize control of Ukraine’s resources

Ukraine is stuck between a rock and a hard place, namely Russia and America, both of which have their sights set on its assets.

Last week a contract landed on Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky’s desk which specified the $500 billion “payback” the US is demanding for its support against the Russian invasion.

The Telegraph managed to get access to a draft of the pre-decisional contract, titled "Privileged & Confidential" and dated Feb 7, 2025.

The Telegraph reveals that the $500bn “debt” would not only mean the country giving the US control of its critical mineral resources but also control of a swathe of assets including ports and infrastructure to oil and gas.

According to The Telegraph, the terms of the contract amount to the economic “colonization” of Ukraine by the US.

The contract stipulates that the US and Ukraine should make sure that “hostile parties to the conflict do not benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine” by virtue of a joint investment fund.

Half of all recurring income from resources will, says the contract, go to the US as well as half of the monetary value of “all new licenses issued to third parties.”

The contract also stipulates that “for all future licenses, the US will have a right of first refusal for the purchase of exportable minerals”.

Additionally, Washington will have near total control over most of Ukraine’s commodity and resource economy.

While Zelensky was willing to do a deal with Trump over Ukraine’s critical minerals, he probably was not expecting to be hit with conditions by a supposed ally more in line with the demands of a victorious enemy.

The demands amount to a higher percentage of Ukraine’s GDP than was expected of Germany in reparations after the Second World War while Russia would appear to be getting off scot-free.

Despite the secrecy of the contract, Donald Trump told Fox News that Ukraine had “essentially agreed” to hand over $500bn.

“They have tremendously valuable land in terms of rare earths, in terms of oil and gas, in terms of other things,” he said.

“They may make a deal. They may not make a deal. They may be Russian someday, or they may not be Russian someday. But I want this money back,” he said, referring to the $300bn the US has plowed into the war to date.

In effect, Trump has turned debt collector, putting Ukraine in an impossible position as it has no way of handing over $500bn anytime soon.

Now Zelensky is faced with ceding to Vladimir Putin’s territorial demands or Trump’s extravagant resource demands which would devastate Ukraine economically for years to come whatever the outcome of the peace negotiations with Russia.

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