Fact check: The Ukrainian president also said he was willing to sign "at any time" the agreement allowing the U.S. to exploit its rare earths and valuable minerals.

1. Summary of the results

The analyses reveal a complex and evolving situation regarding Ukraine's mineral agreements with the United States, but none of the sources directly confirm the Ukrainian president's statement about being willing to sign "at any time" an agreement allowing U.S. exploitation of rare earths and minerals.

What the sources do confirm:

• Ukraine's parliament unanimously ratified a landmark minerals deal with the US in May 2025 ^[1]
• The deal provides the U.S. with preferential access to new Ukrainian minerals deals and funds investment in Ukraine's reconstruction ^[2]
• A joint investment fund for Ukraine's reconstruction will be capitalized partly by revenues from future natural resource extraction ^[3]
• Ukraine retains ownership of the subsoil under the agreement ^[4]

Contradictory evidence emerges from earlier reporting: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy initially refused to sign a draft agreement to hand over half of Ukraine's rare earth minerals to American companies in exchange for military support ^[5]. However, the same source quotes Zelenskyy saying "We really want to sign it as soon as possible. Because we don't want to waste time" regarding a draft agreement on economic cooperation presented by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement omits crucial historical context about the contentious negotiations that preceded any final agreement. Tense talks occurred between U.S. and Ukrainian officials as the mineral deal remained elusive ^[6], suggesting the process was far from the smooth "at any time" willingness implied in the statement.

Critical missing perspectives include:

• Ukraine initially balked at signing Trump's deal to hand over mineral wealth, indicating significant resistance rather than eager willingness ^[5]
• The deal has been critiqued as potentially problematic for Ukraine's economy and security, representing "a poor foundation for peace and recovery" ^[7]
• Ukraine successfully convinced the U.S. to drop some key demands, suggesting Ukrainian negotiators were protective of their interests rather than immediately compliant ^[8]

Economic interests at stake: American companies and the U.S. government benefit significantly from gaining preferential access to Ukraine's valuable mineral resources, particularly in reducing China's dominance in rare earths markets ^[4]. Ukrainian officials benefit from securing reconstruction funding and military support, creating complex incentives for both sides.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The statement appears to mischaracterize the Ukrainian president's position by suggesting immediate and unconditional willingness to sign mineral exploitation agreements. The evidence shows a more nuanced reality where Ukraine engaged in difficult negotiations and initially resisted certain terms.

Specific concerns:

• No source confirms the "at any time" quote attributed to the Ukrainian president regarding mineral exploitation agreements
• The statement ignores the documented resistance and "tense talks" that characterized the negotiation process ^{[6] [5]}
• It omits Ukraine's successful pushback against some U.S. demands, presenting a misleadingly one-sided narrative ^[8]

The framing suggests Ukraine was eager to give away its resources, when the evidence indicates Ukrainian officials were strategic negotiators who secured better terms than initially proposed. This misrepresentation could serve to justify or normalize resource extraction agreements by portraying them as enthusiastically welcomed rather than carefully negotiated compromises born of wartime necessity.