Ukraine and U.S. discuss rare earth supply deal amid conflict
- We are open to all resources being exploited jointly with our partners who help us defend our land and push back the enemy with their weapons, presence, and sanction packages. This is absolutely fair, - said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
On Monday, President Donald Trump said he wants to negotiate an agreement with Ukraine under which Kyiv would supply the United States with rare earth metals used in electronics, in exchange for American assistance.
- We're looking to do a deal with Ukraine where they're going to secure what we're giving them with their rare earths and other things, - Trump said during a conversation with journalists in the Oval Office.
Trump said that "I want security of the rare earth, and they’re willing to do it".
Zelensky: This is absolutely fair
On Tuesday afternoon, the Ukrainian president responded to Trump.
- We are open to all resources being exploited jointly with our partners, who help us defend our land and push back the enemy with their weapons, presence, and sanction packages. This is absolutely fair, - said Volodymyr Zelensky, as quoted by RBK-Ukraine.
Zelensky confirmed that already in September 2024, during a visit to the United States, he spoke to Trump about the potential utilization of Ukraine's resources.
Earlier, Ukrainian media, citing representatives from Zelensky's office, reported that the possibility of utilizing rare earth metal deposits was included in the "victory plan."
One of the portal's interlocutors emphasized that to ensure the use of these resources, it is necessary to guarantee security so that the Russians do not take over the lands where they are located.
Volyn-Azov shield
According to estimates, the Volyn-Azov shield region could contain about 550,000 metric tonnes of lithium, referred to as "white gold" due to its significance in the green transition, especially as a key component of lithium-ion batteries.
The value of the metal deposits in Ukraine is estimated at 10-12 billion dollars, part of which is located in territories occupied by Russia.
Meanwhile, in 2023, Forbes estimated that the value of the deposits reaches 15 billion dollars, with as much as 70% of them located in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions - currently occupied by Russian forces.
