Trump seeks partnership with Ukraine on rare earth resources
The US president, Donald Trump, has shown interest in Ukraine's rare earth metals. Interestingly, Kyiv was not taken aback by this development, as the Ukrainian side suggested the concept of joint extraction several months ago.
According to the RBC-Ukraine portal, which cites a source from President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, the proposal concerning rare earth metals was part of the peace plan.
It is noteworthy that on Monday, President Donald Trump stated that he wishes to negotiate an agreement with Ukraine under which Kyiv would supply the United States with rare earth metals, which are used in electronics, in exchange for American assistance.
Trump and Zelensky discussed this in the autumn
"This was part of the victory plan. We have special resources, including rare earth elements, uranium, lithium, and titanium, and it's important that they don't fall into Russia's hands. That's why President (Volodymyr Zelenskyy - ed.) suggested that they should be specially protected and specially used with key partners," emphasised the RBC-Ukraine interlocutor.
According to the RBC-Ukraine source, President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed this issue with Donald Trump last autumn.
He clarified that security guarantees are essential to protect rare earth metals from the Russians.
Rare earth metals, also known as rare earth elements, are a group of 17 chemical elements, including scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium.
On Monday, during a conversation with journalists in the Oval Office, the American leader stated: "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." He added that "Ukraine is ready to do this."
Trump also said that "great progress has been made" on Russia and Ukraine, but he did not clarify precisely what he meant.
