As Washington and Kyiv resumed negotiations over a controversial mineral deal, a surprising new demand has emerged from the Trump administration: US control over a major gas pipeline that transports Russian gas through Ukraine to Europe.
According to a Reuters report, the latest proposal drafted by US officials is far more aggressive than the initial February version. That earlier draft had suggested Kyiv hand over $500 billion worth of rare earth metals, oil, and gas to the US. The current version now includes what sources call “Easter eggs,” including a clause demanding that the US International Development Finance Corporation take control of a key pipeline used by Russia’s Gazprom.
A Pipeline With High Stakes
The pipeline in question runs from Sudzha in western Russia to Uzhhorod, a city on Ukraine’s western border with Slovakia and the European Union. This Soviet-era pipeline had long been a major energy corridor, generating hundreds of millions in transit fees for both Russia and Ukraine. However, Ukraine shut it down on January 1 after its five-year contract with Gazprom expired.
Now, the Trump administration wants a stake in this dormant but strategically valuable asset—one that could become crucial again depending on future geopolitical developments.
Trump’s “Payback” Pitch
Former President Donald Trump, now leading a comeback bid in the 2024 elections, reportedly views this deal as a form of reimbursement. He has frequently stated that the US provided between $300 billion and $350 billion in aid to Ukraine during the Biden administration’s tenure and wants “to get that money back.”
Trump first discussed the deal with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last September, proposing future profits from joint investments in exchange for US weapons. While Ukraine appeared open to the idea, the latest American offer seems to have pushed too far.
Tense Negotiations and Reactions
The atmosphere at Friday’s meeting between US and Ukrainian officials was described as “antagonistic.” A source quoted by Reuters said, “The negotiating environment is very antagonistic,” attributing the tension to the Trump administration’s “maximalist” demands.
Despite Washington’s aggressive pitch, Zelensky held his ground. “I am just defending what belongs to Ukraine,” he said on Wednesday. “It should be beneficial for both the United States and Ukraine. This is the right thing to do.”
Ukraine has retained the international law firm Hogan Lovells to advise on the minerals deal, signaling the complexity and seriousness of the negotiations.
No Security Guarantees in Sight
One glaring omission from the US proposal is the lack of any security guarantees—a key priority for Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia, which currently occupies around 20% of Ukrainian territory.
Volodymyr Landa, a senior economist at Kyiv’s Centre for Economic Strategy, criticized the US approach, calling it a “colonial-type” demand. “The Americans were out for all they can get,” he told, predicting Kyiv would not yield easily.
As talks continue, Ukraine appears unwilling to hand over control of critical infrastructure without a deal that offers real, mutual benefit.
