US Approves $310 Million F-16 Deal for Ukraine Days After Securing Rare Minerals Access

By Benson Ngecu

The United States has greenlit a potential $310 million sale of F-16 fighter jet training, sustainment, and military equipment to Ukraine, the Pentagon announced Friday—just days after Kyiv signed a controversial agreement granting Washington access to its strategic rare mineral reserves.

Details of the Arms Deal
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) confirmed the proposed sale, which includes:
– Ground handling equipment for F-16 operations
– Classified and unclassified software support
– Engineering and logistics services from US contractors (Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, AAR Corporation)
– M1 Abrams tanks and long-range missiles, in addition to F-16-related support

This comes as Ukraine prepares to integrate F-16s donated by European allies, following a transfer authorized under President Joe Biden’s administration last year.

Link to Ukraine’s Rare Minerals Deal
The arms sale follows a June 26 agreement between Washington and Kyiv that grants the US access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals—critical for advanced weapons, electronics, and renewable energy tech. The deal also establishes a US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, raising concerns over whether military aid is being exchanged for resource concessions.

Escalating US Military Involvement
Since 2022, the US has sent Ukraine over $31 billion in weapons via the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), bypassing Congressional approval for rapid transfers. The latest F-16 deal signals continued escalation, despite:
– Donald Trump’s campaign promise to end the war "within 24 hours" if re-elected
– Mounting criticism that US arms shipments prolong the conflict without a clear diplomatic strategy

Russia’s Reaction & Peace Prospects
Moscow has repeatedly condemned Western arms deliveries, warning they deepen instability. The Biden administration maintains that military aid is essential for Ukraine’s defense, but critics argue the lack of a coherent peace plan risks endless warfare.

What’s Next?
With F-16s expected in Ukrainian skies this summer, the conflict enters a new phase—one where advanced Western jets could shift battlefield dynamics. However, as US involvement grows, so do questions about long-term strategy, resource motives, and the elusive path to peace.

Key things:

– Is the US trading arms for Ukraine’s rare minerals?
– Will F-16s change the war’s trajectory, or prolong it?
– Can any future US administration broker peace—or is the conflict now self-sustaining?