Trump and Zelensky Finalize Controversial U.S.-Ukraine Resource Agreement

The deal focuses on joint extraction of Ukraine's natural resources but omits U.S. security guarantees, straining an already tense relationship.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House to sign a resource-sharing agreement on Friday.
The agreement allows the U.S. and Ukraine to jointly extract natural resources in Ukraine, with profits directed to a shared fund.
Ukraine holds about five percent of the world's untapped natural resources, many of which are located in Russian-occupied territories, complicating extraction efforts.
The deal does not include explicit U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine, a key demand previously made by Zelensky.
Tensions between the leaders had escalated in recent weeks, with Trump previously labeling Zelensky a 'dictator,' though the tone softened ahead of the agreement's signing.