The proposed US-Ukraine minerals deal
When "America First" becomes win-win cooperation
A minerals deal had been signed by U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko, prior to the Oval Office clash among President Donald Trump, Vice-President J.D. Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which resulted in the cancelation of the ceremony of signing by the presidents of the two countries. The now-deferred minerals deal is an excellent example of a mutually beneficial economic arrangement between two countries. As such, it demonstrates the potential of a new paradigm of win-win cooperation for overcoming the current sustained structural crisis of the world-system.
Ukraine has significant deposits of so-called critical elements and minerals, including lithium (the key component in batteries), graphite (used to make batteries for electric vehicles), and titanium (used in the construction of airplanes and power stations). Ukraine also has significant deposits of coal, gas, oil, and u…