US Lowers Estimated Cost of Ukraine Aid to $100 Bln

The United States has significantly revised its estimate of the total cost of aid provided to Ukraine since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, reducing the figure from $300 billion to about $100 billion, according to a Bloomberg report citing informed sources.

The reassessment comes amid ongoing discussions within the administration of former President Donald Trump, who is reportedly pursuing a bilateral minerals agreement with Ukraine as part of broader peace efforts aimed at ending the war.

The deal is seen as a potential pathway to recover some of the funds spent on military assistance to Kyiv, despite the aid not being structured as a loan.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that recent talks with the US over a proposed minerals agreement had been positive, with further meetings expected in the near future. 

The White House has not yet responded to Reuters' request for comment on the matter.

Last month, the Trump administration proposed a more comprehensive minerals agreement with Ukraine.

While the deal would not include any future security guarantees for Kyiv, it would require Ukraine to deposit all revenues generated from natural resource exploitation — by both state-owned and private companies — into a joint investment fund.

This move is seen as part of a shift in US strategy, focusing on long-term economic partnerships rather than open-ended military spending. 

Analysts suggest the proposed agreement could reshape Ukraine’s resource sector while raising concerns over national sovereignty and economic dependency.

The recalibrated aid estimate and evolving negotiations signal a potential turning point in US–Ukraine relations, as Washington explores alternative mechanisms for engagement and post-war recovery planning.