Ukraine Moves Forward with U.S. Minerals Deal as First Lithium Mining Steps Approved

In a significant stride toward revitalizing its mining sector, Ukraine has approved preliminary steps to allow private investors to mine a vital lithium deposit, reinforcing its landmark agreement with the United States.

Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 16, 2025, highlights the government’s ambitious efforts to fulfill the recent minerals deal signed with the Trump administration. The understanding grants U.S. companies access to substantial Ukrainian mineral reserves, crucial for electric battery production.

Just over a month after the agreement was established, Ukraine's government initiated the process of enabling private mining firms to explore the Dobra lithium field located in central Ukraine. This endeavor marks the first project endorsed under the new agreement. Two government officials, opting for anonymity, confirmed that the drafting of recommendations for opening bids to interested companies had commenced.

Major investors, including TechMet—an energy investment firm partly owned by the U.S. government—and Ronald S. Lauder, a billionaire associated with ex-President Trump, are among those poised to bid on the Dobra deposit. These parties have long pushed for operational progress, appealing to President Volodymyr Zelensky late last year to proceed with bidding opportunities.

The minerals deal stipulates that half of the revenue generated from mineral extraction will be allocated to a joint investment fund benefitting both Ukraine and the United States. This financial arrangement, touted by Trump as a repayment plan for historical U.S. support to Ukraine, emphasizes the two nations' collaboration amid ongoing conflicts.

The drafting process for the bidding guidelines will likely take several weeks, and it remains uncertain if Ukraine's government will commit to opening the bidding. Official comments regarding this decision have yet to be released, reflecting the sensitive nature of the developments.