Former US President Donald Trump has sparked controversy by reportedly pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to hand over Ukraine’s vast natural resources, including oil, gas, and critical minerals, in return for continued American military support.
According to reports, Trump has claimed a stake in Ukraine’s infrastructure, ports, and resource reserves, estimating their value at $500 billion—which he argues is justifiable as “payback” for US aid.
Zelensky has refused to sign the agreement, citing the lack of concrete security guarantees from the US.
However, on Friday, he acknowledged that negotiations were ongoing, with Trump expecting a deal to be finalised soon.
Threat to Cut Ukraine’s Access to Starlink
Amid the negotiations, sources told Reuters that Trump’s team has threatened to cut Ukraine’s access to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet system if an agreement is not reached.
Starlink is crucial for Ukraine’s military operations, particularly in its drone and artillery warfare against Russia.
US special envoy Keith Kellogg reportedly warned Zelensky that Ukraine faced an “imminent shutoff” unless it agreed to US demands on critical minerals.
A source described the potential loss as a “massive blow,” emphasising that “Ukraine runs on Starlink.”
After Reuters published its report, Musk denied the claims, calling the story “false” and accusing the news agency of lying.
Ukraine Rejects US Proposal on Critical Minerals
Last week, Zelensky rejected a US proposal that would have allowed Washington and American firms to control 50% of Ukraine’s critical minerals, including graphite, uranium, titanium, and lithium—a key component in electric vehicle batteries.
Since then, tensions between the two leaders have escalated, with Trump branding Zelensky “a dictator without elections.”
