US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will travel to Ukraine this week, marking the first cabinet-level visit from former President Donald Trump’s administration to the war-torn country. The visit aims to negotiate US access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, energy resources, and key state-owned enterprises as part of a broader effort to end the Russia-Ukraine war and strengthen American resource security.
According to an anonymous source, discussions will cover the possibility of a resource-sharing pact, under which the US would gain access to Ukrainian rare earths in exchange for ongoing support against Russian aggression. Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy have expressed mutual interest in such an arrangement.
US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz further emphasized on Sunday that the US aims to recoup its war-related expenditures by partnering with Ukraine on energy and natural resource projects, including oil and gas.
A high-profile US delegation, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg, will also hold talks with European allies and Ukrainian officials this week.
The Trump administration is reportedly pressuring European nations to purchase more American weapons for Ukraine, a move aimed at strengthening Kyiv’s defenses ahead of potential peace negotiations with Moscow.
