Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has agreed to a draft deal with the White House that would provide the U.S. access to Ukraine’s strategic minerals in exchange for continued American support amid the war with Russia. The deal, which includes resources like titanium, iron, and uranium, is expected to be signed during Zelenskyy’s visit to D.C. on Friday. U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed for such agreements to recoup the costs of U.S. aid to Ukraine, which has amounted to billions of dollars since February 2022.

Trump’s administration has prioritized gaining access to Ukraine’s natural resources, although this has led to tensions between him and Zelenskyy. Trump criticized Zelenskyy in a Truth Social post, calling him a “modestly successful comedian” and suggesting that only he could end the war with Russia. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy’s team sees the deal as an opportunity to accelerate Ukraine’s economic growth through U.S. investment. On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed openness to cooperating with the U.S. on mineral extraction in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.