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Why Zelensky – not Trump – may have ‘won’ the US-Ukraine minerals deal

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    • US President Donald Trump (left) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of Pope Francis' funeral on Apr 26 at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.
    • US President Donald Trump (left) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of Pope Francis' funeral on Apr 26 at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. PHOTO: AFP

    DeeperDive is a beta AI feature. Refer to full articles for the facts.

    Eve Warburton and Olga Boichak

    Published Wed, May 7, 2025 · 07:00 AM

    LAST week, the Trump administration signed a deal with Kyiv that gives it privileged access to Ukraine’s natural resources.

    Some news outlets described the deal as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “caving” to US President Donald Trump’s demands. But we see the agreement as the result of clever bargaining on the part of Ukraine’s war-time president.

    So, what does the deal mean for Ukraine? And will this help strengthen America’s mineral supply chains?

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    Russia-Ukraine warMinerals

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