MOSCOW — Former Russian president and current Security Council deputy chairman Dmitry Medvedev has sharply criticized the newly signed U.S.-Ukraine minerals agreement, accusing Washington of effectively coercing Kyiv into trading national resources for future military support.
The deal, signed on Wednesday in Washington, grants the United States preferential access to new mineral licenses in Ukraine and establishes a joint investment fund to aid in the country’s post-war reconstruction.
“Trump has broken the Kyiv regime to the point where they will have to pay for U.S. aid with mineral resources,” Medvedev said on his Telegram channel. “Now they will have to pay for military supplies with the national wealth of a disappearing country.”
The Kyiv Post reported that, alongside the minerals deal, the Trump administration notified Congress of its intent to authorize direct commercial sales of U.S. defense equipment to Ukraine exceeding $50 million—a move not yet confirmed by other sources.
Medvedev, once seen as a liberal reformer during his presidency from 2008 to 2012, has since become one of Moscow’s most outspoken critics of the West. His remarks reflect a wider Kremlin narrative that portrays the United States as exploiting Ukraine’s vulnerability amid its war with Russia.
The agreement comes amid international frustration over the stalled peace process. The U.S. has publicly urged renewed dialogue, while Moscow maintains it is ready for talks—though it insists any resolution must address complex, long-term issues. Ukraine, for its part, is calling for an immediate 30-day ceasefire, a proposal Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged in principle, while suggesting further negotiations are required.
In a symbolic gesture, Putin has announced a three-day ceasefire from May 8 to 10 to coincide with Victory Day commemorations marking the end of World War II.
While Russia has yet to officially respond to the Ukraine-U.S. deal, the Kremlin has pointed to its own vast mineral resources and hinted at potential cooperation with Washington in other regions, such as the Arctic.
Meanwhile, former Kremlin adviser Sergei Markov argued that the agreement could complicate diplomatic efforts. “The U.S. is beginning to see itself as a sort of co-owner of Ukraine,” he said. “Therefore, it will take a position that it considers pro-Ukrainian,” suggesting this stance might further hinder Russia’s goals in peace negotiations.