Deal on Ukraine minerals 'a game-changer' for US support for Kyiv, says US senator

A potential deal between the US and Ukraine on rare earth minerals will be a “game-changer” for ramping up the Trump administration's support for Ukraine, Republican Senator Lyndsay Graham said on Saturday.

Kyiv and Washington are in talks to strike a deal that would allow the US the right to mine critical minerals, including rare earth minerals, that are used in many everyday and high-tech appliances, as well as military hardware. US President Donald Trump implied earlier this week that the deal was a must for Ukraine to secure continued military support.

 “If the mineral agreement happens it’s a nightmare for Putin because we have something to defend that we didn’t have before," Graham told the Munich Security Conference.

“They’re sitting on top of trillion dollars’ worth of minerals that all of us can benefit from,” he said.

It’s a “game changer, because President Trump can go to the American people and say Ukraine’s not a burden, it’s a benefit”, he said, adding: "So you better be pulling for this minerals agreement."

Meanwhile Graham told the conference that the US Senate was firmly behind America’s role and membership of Nato, despite some less committed pronouncements by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth who said European Security was no longer a primary priority for the US.

“The American Senate is firmly in Nato’s camp," Graham said.

“There’s an isolationist movement in the Republican party but we’ve dealt with that since the founding of Nato.”

“We need Nato now more than ever. Putin wouldn’t invade a Nato nation because he understands the consequences would be too severe.”

He said the West would be “stupid” if it doesn’t substantially increase weapon contribution to Kyiv; pointing to the opportunities for deal-making