Ukraine Minerals Deal Is Largely Symbolic – But That’s Enough for Donald Trump

Ukraine Minerals Deal Is Largely Symbolic – But That’s Enough for Donald Trump

By [Soumit Dhar]

In politics, the appearance of action can matter more than the action itself. For former President Donald Trump, that principle has always been a guiding force. His recent move to spotlight a critical minerals deal with Ukraine is a case in point: a largely symbolic gesture, short on substance, but rich with political narrative.

The deal in question is not a formal agreement or a contract. It’s a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between representatives tied to Trump and a Ukrainian state-backed agency. The aim? Future cooperation on extracting and processing critical minerals—such as lithium, titanium, and rare earth elements—that are essential for modern technologies ranging from smartphones to electric vehicles to military systems.

Given the geopolitical climate, any talk of securing rare earth minerals outside of China’s dominant supply chain is bound to attract attention. But when the dust settles, what’s left is a document of intent without binding commitments, no secured funding, and no immediate projects underway. In a literal sense, it's a handshake, not a blueprint.

Still, that’s hardly the point if you’re Donald Trump.

For a former president looking to return to the White House, optics are currency. The Ukraine minerals deal allows Trump to project leadership, foreign policy initiative, and economic foresight—all without holding any office. It’s red meat for his base, a demonstration of his continued relevance, and a reminder of his favored branding: Trump the Deal-Maker.

By positioning himself at the center of a strategic resource conversation, Trump is tapping into two politically potent issues. First, the growing concern among U.S. policymakers about China’s stranglehold on the global supply of rare earth elements. And second, the desire to support Ukraine in ways that go beyond military aid. In theory, helping Ukraine develop its mineral resources strengthens the country’s economic independence while also serving Western supply chain interests.

But the real value for Trump is in the symbolism. This deal enables him to frame himself as someone who’s taking proactive steps on the global stage while President Joe Biden, in Trump’s narrative, dithers in Washington. It reinforces Trump’s repeated claim that he “gets things done,” even from the sidelines.

The symbolism becomes even more potent given the context of Ukraine. Trump’s record on Ukraine is complicated, to say the least. His first impeachment stemmed from a phone call in which he pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate the Biden family. And during the early stages of the Russian invasion, Trump was criticized for being too cozy with Vladimir Putin and too dismissive of U.S. obligations to NATO.

Now, this minerals deal lets him reframe the Ukraine narrative. Rather than talking about past controversies, Trump can now claim he’s contributing to Ukraine’s long-term future and economic security. He can say, without needing to deliver concrete results, that he's helping reduce Ukraine’s reliance on foreign aid by encouraging investment in critical infrastructure.

Of course, critics are quick to point out the limitations—and contradictions—of the deal. Ukraine is still in the midst of an existential war. Any serious mining operations are years away, dependent on post-war reconstruction, stable governance, and billions in international investment. Moreover, the kind of private sector partnership Trump is promoting would require close coordination with both Ukrainian authorities and allied governments—something difficult to accomplish without formal diplomatic engagement.

And yet, none of that diminishes the political value of the announcement. Trump has long shown a talent for turning non-binding agreements into media spectacles. From the photo ops with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un to the much-publicized but largely hollow “peace deals” in the Middle East, Trump understands that in the court of public opinion, headlines matter more than policy briefs.

This latest move is no different. It gives Trump a foreign policy talking point on the campaign trail. He can argue that while the Biden administration is bogged down in slow-moving bureaucratic processes, he is already forging deals and making global economic plays. Whether or not those plays lead to tangible results is secondary to the narrative.

Moreover, the deal dovetails with Trump’s “America First” rhetoric. By asserting that U.S.-aligned companies could eventually help develop Ukraine’s mineral wealth—reducing dependence on adversaries like China—he’s pushing a vision of strategic independence and economic nationalism that resonates with his supporters.

In the end, the Ukraine minerals agreement may not change the course of the war, or even result in a single mine being dug. But in Trump’s political universe, that doesn’t really matter. What matters is that he looks like a player, a dealmaker, and a leader. And in a campaign built on perception and momentum, that symbolic image may be all he needs.

Whether the voters will buy into that image remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: in Trump’s world, symbolism isn’t a flaw. It’s a feature.