Category
Latest news

US Eases Ukraine Aid Debt Estimate to $100 Billion Amid Ongoing Talks, Bloomberg Reports

2 min read
Authors
Photo of Vlad Litnarovych
Vlad Litnarovych
Author
US Eases Ukraine Aid Debt Estimate to $100 Billion Amid Ongoing Talks, Bloomberg Reports
Drag-line excavator mines rare earth materials on Ukrainian soil on February 25, 2025, in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine. (Source: Getty Images)

The United States has scaled back its repayment demands from Ukraine as part of ongoing talks over a broader economic partnership, according to people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported on April 16.

Following negotiations in Washington last week, the Trump administration reportedly lowered its estimate of US aid provided to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion—from $300 billion to about $100 billion. The revised figure now more closely aligns with Ukraine’s own assessment of just over $90 billion.

The talks are focused on securing a long-term economic deal that would give the US a share of profits from future Ukrainian investment projects, particularly in strategic sectors such as minerals and infrastructure. Washington sees this as compensation for the tens of billions of dollars in military and financial support delivered under former President Joe Biden during the early years of the war.

As part of the proposed agreement, the US would receive the first claim on profits channeled into a special reconstruction fund controlled by Washington. Ukrainian officials, however, are pushing for better terms and continue to reject the notion that previous US aid constitutes debt.

A Treasury spokesperson described the talks as “highly productive,” adding that the department looks forward to concluding negotiations soon.

Asked about the status of the talks on Monday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Ukraine had submitted a counterproposal over the weekend and that negotiations are ongoing. “We are very, very close,” Bessent told Bloomberg News while attending an event in Buenos Aires. “It could even be signed as early as this week.”

Technical teams from both countries met Friday and Saturday for what one source described as “constructive” discussions. Still, the US reportedly continues to view the deal as a means to recoup some of the costs it incurred supporting Ukraine, even though the size of the proposed fund remains unspecified.

Earlier, Ukraine received a new version of the proposed agreement on mineral resources from the United States and has begun internal and bilateral consultations to review the updated terms.

See all