Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reviewed a classified map of vast deposits of rare earths and other key minerals — following Donald Trump’s proposal for a deal, according to Reuters.
The US president, whose administration is pushing for a quick end to Ukraine’s war with Russia, said on Monday he wanted Ukraine to supply the US with rare earths and other minerals in exchange for financial support for its war effort.
“If we’re talking about a deal, then let’s make a deal,” Zelensky said, stressing Ukraine’s need for security guarantees from its allies — as part of any solution.
Ukraine floated the idea of opening up its key mineral resources in exchange for investment from allies last fall, after presenting a “victory plan” that sought to put Kiev in a stronger negotiating position and force Moscow to the table.
Zelensky said that less than 20% of Ukraine’s mineral resources, including about half of its rare earth deposits, were under Russian occupation.
“Rare earths are important in the production of high-performance magnets, electric motors and consumer electronics,” he said.
Zelensky said that Moscow could open those resources to its allies — North Korea and Iran — both sworn enemies of the United States.
“We must stop Putin and defend what we have — a very rich Dnipro region in central Ukraine,” he said.
Russian troops have been gaining ground in the east for months, while Kiev’s forces are facing a shortage of soldiers and are worried about future arms supplies from abroad.
Zelenskiy spread out a map on a table in his Kiev office, showing numerous mineral deposits, including a wide strip of land in the east – which contained rare earths.
He said Ukraine had the largest reserves of titanium in Europe, essential for the aviation and space industries, and uranium, used for nuclear power and weapons.
Ukraine has rapidly reshaped its foreign policy approach to align with the transactional worldview established by the new president of the White House, Ukraine’s most important ally.
But Zelenskiy stressed that Kiev was not proposing to “give away” its resources, but rather to offer a mutually beneficial partnership to develop them together.
“The Americans helped the most, and therefore the Americans should gain the most. And they should make this a priority, and they will. “I would also like to talk about this with President Trump,” Zelensky said.
He said Russia knew in detail where Ukraine’s important resources were from Soviet-era geological surveys that were returned to Moscow when Kiev gained independence in 1991.
