On Saturday, Ukraine was weighing a revised American proposal regarding its substantial natural resources. This proposal includes many of the same terms Kyiv had previously deemed too burdensome, according to a draft document of the new terms.

Some stipulations in the latest draft appear to be even more stringent than those outlined before. While Ukraine had not yet finalized its stance on the deal by Saturday afternoon, accepting these terms could signify a retreat from its original position in the face of intense pressure from President Trump. The American President views access to Ukraine’s immense mineral resources as a crucial form of repayment for the billions in aid the U.S. has extended to support Ukraine during its ongoing conflict with Russia.

This deal could potentially deprive Ukraine of critical funding that is currently focused on bolstering its military and defense capabilities, hindering the nation’s future reconstruction efforts following the war. The new proposal, dated February 21 and reviewed by The New York Times, stipulates that Ukraine would need to cede half of its revenues from its natural resources—including minerals, gas, and oil—as well as earnings from ports and other infrastructure.

A similar demand was included in a prior version of the agreement, dated February 14, which The Times also examined. Four current and former officials from Ukraine, alongside a businessman who had been briefed on the new terms, confirmed that this requirement has not altered.

Notably, Ukraine had previously been exploring the idea of a partnership with the United States concerning its valuable natural resources, hoping to persuade Trump to offer additional support for its military efforts and assurances against future threats from Russia if a peace agreement is reached.

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