Zelenskyy 'Ukraine war aid, ‘got only $75 of $177b, Trump say Ukraine needs to repay, “U.S. pausing all military aid to Ukraine” Zelensky folded???
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I knew he was going to shit on them. Good! Fuck those devils. The Ashkenazim of Kazar/Ukraine owe Africans and Black Americans trillions in reparations for their hand in slave trades.
Shit ninjas on here don’t ca re about Haiti like that
So you know Washington ain’t fucking with like that
Dude with those two statements, Washington pretty much ended Ukraine’s talking points.
If you’re sponsor say it’s over, it’s not happening then wtf can you do now
I’m sure this is the result of that
Zelensky standing on business and told tump and Putin eat a dick lol
He don’t talk to Putin but if we’re honest Putin getting much of those minerals.
If he can get atleast 10km outside of the Donbas oblast he’ll be sitting nice…
That’s a nice chunk of land, it’s said this where most of those minerals were being mined…
That’s why Zelensky was so firm about returning to the orginal borders
(It’s said he don’t talk to Putin, had to put this becuase I don’t know if they talk or not)
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US presents Ukraine with deal to access its minerals but offers no guarantees
Sunday, 16 February 2025 7:06 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 16 February 2025 7:06 PM ]
The United States has presented Ukraine with a proposal to gain access to its rare earth minerals, but offered almost nothing in return, according to media reports.
The details of the US proposal, which was a major issue in recent talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Vice President JD Vance on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany on Friday, were not disclosed.
However, reports citing a senior Ukrainian official familiar with the talks said Zelensky had directed his ministers not to sign off on the proposal because the deal was too focused on US interests and offered no guarantees to Kiev.
“I didn’t let the ministers sign a relevant agreement because in my view it is not ready to protect us, our interest,” Zelensky told The Associated Press on Saturday in Munich.
“For me is very important the connection between some kind of security guarantees and some kind of investment,” the Ukrainian president said.
Zelensky did not go into details about why he instructed his officials not to sign the document, which was given to Ukrainian officials on Wednesday by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bassent on a visit to Kiev.
The US proposal was focused on how the Americans could gain access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals “as compensation” for support already given to Ukraine by the Biden administration and as payment for future aid, the current and former senior Ukrainian officials said, speaking anonymously so they could speak freely.
Zelensky has agreed with US President Donald Trump to close a deal to receive further American military aid in exchange for developing Ukraine’s mineral industry, which could provide a valuable source of the rare earth elements that are essential for many kinds of technology.
However, when Zelensky received the US offer, he declined. “It’s a colonial agreement and Zelensky cannot sign it,” the former senior Ukrainian official explained.
Ukraine may be Russia’s someday, Trump says
The US president says Ukraine may belong to Russia someday as Russian troops continue to make advancements on the eastern Ukrainian frontline.
In response, a senior White House official criticized Zelensky over his decision not to accept the deal, at least for now, describing his move as “short-sighted”.
White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes did not explicitly confirm the offer, but said in a statement that “President Zelensky is being short-sighted about the excellent opportunity the Trump administration has presented to Ukraine.”
The Trump administration is reluctant to send further US military aid to Ukraine and Hughes said a minerals deal would allow American taxpayers to “recoup” money sent to Kiev, while growing Ukraine’s economy. He added that the White House believes “binding economic ties with the United States will be the best guarantee against future aggression and an integral part of lasting peace.”
“The US recognizes this, the Russians recognize this, and the Ukrainians must recognize this.”
Trump promised his supporters in his re-election campaign speeches to swiftly broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia and stop sending billions of much-needed US taxpayer dollars to Kiev.
Likewise, Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak had recently professed that Ukraine is “interested to work” with the Trump administration to reach a peace deal with Russia.
Ukraine, however, is concerned that any peace deal with Russia, which does not include guarantees, such as NATO membership or the deployment of peacekeeping troops, is doomed to failure.
Trump officials pitch Zelenskyy on U.S. owning 50% of Ukraine's rare earth minerals
The Trump administration indicated U.S. troops could be deployed to provide security in connection with the minerals if there’s a peace deal with Russia, sources told NBC News.
Feb. 14, 2025, 10:01 PM CST
The Trump administration has suggested to Ukraine that the United States be granted 50% ownership of the country’s rare earth minerals, and signaled an openness to deploying American troops there to guard them if there’s a deal with Russia to end the war, according to four U.S. officials.
Rather than pay for the minerals, the ownership agreement would be a way for Ukraine to reimburse the U.S. for the billions of dollars in weapons and support its provided to Kyiv since the war began in February 2022, two of the officials said.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent presented the proposal for the U.S. to own half of Ukraine’s rare earth minerals to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a draft contract he brought to their meeting on Wednesday in Kyiv, according to eight U.S. officials briefed on the meeting.
After that meeting, Bessent said the draft of a U.S.-Ukraine rare earth minerals agreement reflected the president’s goal, but he did not provide details of what the administration had proposed.
Zelenskyy declined to sign the document when Bessent presented it during their meeting, saying he needed to study it and consult others about it, the eight U.S. officials briefed on the meeting said.
The Ukrainian leader said at the time that he and his team “will do everything to review all details of the document” before his arrival in Munich, where he met Friday with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as well as U.S. lawmakers on the sidelines of a global security conference.
The Ukrainian Embassy in Washington and a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday.
Zelenskyy said in his speech at the security conference Friday that his lawyers would weigh in on the document Bessent presented to him in Kyiv with advice and some changes. He referred to the proposal as a memorandum between the U.S. and Ukraine, not a security agreement.
In recent months, President Donald Trump has expressed interest in striking a deal with Ukraine that would grant the U.S. significant access to its rare earth minerals, which are used to make a variety of technology products.
In a recent interview with Fox News, Trump said he wanted the U.S. to get $500 billion worth of Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, and signaled Kyiv had “essentially agreed to do so.”
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office this month that he would view access to the minerals as a form of “security.”
“I want to have the security of rare earth. We’re putting in hundreds of billions of dollars. They have great rare earth, and I want security of the rare earth, and they’re willing to do it,” Trump said.
Many of Ukraine’s minerals are in areas now controlled by Russian troops, three U.S. officials said.
Ukrainian officials have said Zelenskyy has long backed the idea of exchanging “critical resources” for continued U.S. support, calling the idea part of the “Victory Plan” that he presented to Trump during a meeting last fall.
In an exclusive interview Friday at the Munich Security Conference, Zelenskyy told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker that it would be “very, very difficult” for Ukraine to survive without U.S. military support.
“In all the difficult situations, you have a chance. But we will have low chance — low chance to survive without support of the United States. I think it’s very important, critical,” Zelenskyy said.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said this week that U.S. troops would not be deployed to Ukraine as part of any security guarantees for the country. Vance told The Wall Street Journalon Thursday that the U.S. sending troops to Ukraine is “on the table” if Russia does not negotiate a peace agreement in good faith.
Trump has long bristled at the amount of American support for Ukraine, referring to Zelenskyy at a past campaign event as “the greatest salesman of all time.”
“Every time Zelenskyy comes to the United States, he walks away with $100 billion,” Trump said in September. “I think he’s the greatest salesman on Earth. But we’re stuck in that war unless I’m president.”
Good. Shouldn’t be giving them shit for free. Need to juice Isreal too.
Christ lmao! They're hustling thee fuck outta Ukraine
Now I'm starting to wonder if this whole shit was Putin and Trumps long-game plan the entire time
Christ lmao! They're hustling thee fuck outta Ukraine
Now I'm starting to wonder if this whole shit was Putin and Trumps long-game plan the entire time
Many people would wonder this
I don’t see it being that way, if so Washington was in on it from like 2014
But I’m far from being in the know it all loop soooo idk
You're probably right. I just know (now) that the rare earth materials issue has become a huge thing since China can easily cut us off (and why Trump has such a hard on for Greenland's and now Ukraine's resources).
I don't put anything past these dudes.
Yep them rare earths is very serious
It’s like we have to find something and Ukraine is out best choice now
Christ lmao! They're hustling thee fuck outta Ukraine
Now I'm starting to wonder if this whole shit was Putin and Trumps long-game plan the entire time
This is about Elon musk!!!!! Ukraine is a top 5 country for graphite! Graphite is used to make batteries for electric vehicles!!! It also has a 3rd of all European lithium deposits! The key component is current batteries!!! And not to mention the critical minerals lol lol which just by coincidence those minerals are used from military shit to infrastructure!! It’s a game of money and the us wants in or should I say has been in on it….
@playahaitian these are the real hunger games!!!
Mannn folks been yelling about getting them minerals from Ukraine…
Actually there’s some shit that being said but folks said it’s not true
Much of that land in the East been sold to non-companies.
Now Russia is capturing it and including it into the Russia Federation is horrible for them folks
It’s my thinking this why Zelensky have to keep going and make it looks like he’s trying.
Europe needs access to those minerals also but they been pushed aside by Trump and em’
You see how pissed off they were when those talks happened and they wasn’t included
Now they finding money for Zelensky to keep fight, while Trump say peace is near…and no more American money in the future
Its kinda the EU vs Washington for the rights to represent Ukraine in peace talks…
True true true!! These multi international companies want them resources! And also these countries want them as well!! Ukraine know this, as well as Russia! It’s a game of who gets what at this point…
From what’s happening on the frontlines it’s currently whatever Russia decides to do.
Russia closing in to cutting off the Ukrainian supply road to Kursk(this don’t affect the minerals)
Another couple months and Russia likely have every inches of the Donbas. They likely have all of the annexed land also.
Now the question is
Will they turn their backs on their strongest connection with China for eased American sanctions?
I doubt it, won’t make sense Washington policy change every 4 years
I’d say just keep developing Brics but create agreements with Washington about lifting sanctions for rights to get contracts for mining.
Then again sanctions haven’t crippled Moscow, like we hoped. It forced them to be more creative.
Let’s how fast they developed Brics in the pass three years
i think the end game for Russia is to control the EU!! If they control majority of resources in Europe then they will control Europe. Europe really never stop doing business with Russia; so those sanctions really didnt hurt them! Eastern Europe is where most of Europes resources are at; and who dominates eastern Europe? welp...
This clown thinks he’s entitled to free billions. Didn’t he say if his resignation brought peace he would resign?
Biggest political whore of the decade
and now Zelensky is goin in... ..new world fellas , buckle up !
He did say thatThis clown thinks he’s entitled to free billions. Didn’t he say if his resignation brought peace he would resign?
Biggest political whore of the decade
What do you mean by “now Zelensky goin in”
Officials in Ukraine and the Trump administration said they have reached a deal that would give the United States revenues from Ukraine’s minerals and other natural resources, after an intense pressure campaign by the American president.
Terms of the agreement
It is not clear if the two sides have reached final agreement on the terms of the deal.
A draft seen by The New York Times dated Feb. 25 described the creation of a U.S.-controlled fund that would receive revenue from Ukraine’s natural resources.
Missing from the draft was Mr. Trump’s initial demand that Ukraine contribute $500 billion to a fund owned by the United States and pay back twice the amount of any future American aid.
Under the draft agreement, Ukraine would contribute into the fund half of its revenues from the future monetization of natural resources, including critical minerals, oil and gas, as well as earnings from associated infrastructure, such as liquefied natural gas terminals and port infrastructure.
Security guarantee
The draft vaguely referenced security guarantees, but did not signal any specific U.S. commitment to safeguarding Ukraine’s security — a provision Kyiv has vigorously pressed to include as its war against Russia enters its fourth year.
A copy of the agreement obtained Wednesday by The New York Times included a sentence stating that the United States “supports Ukraine’s effort to obtain security guarantees needed to establish lasting peace.” Previous drafts did not have the phrase.
Approval process
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine is expected to travel to Washington on Friday to sign the agreement with President Trump. The draft obtained by The Times showed Scott Bessent, the U.S. Treasury secretary, and Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s economy minister, as the initial signatories.
It was not clear whether the draft, dated Tuesday, was a final version.
Ukraine’s mineral resources
Ukraine controls more than 100 major deposits of critical minerals, according to a study by the Kyiv School of Economics, along with modest oil and natural gas reserves.
Ukraine also has deposits of 20 of the 50 minerals the U.S. Geological Survey lists as critical for America’s economic development and defense, including:
Titanium, used in construction, airplanes, orthopedic implants and as an additive in paint and cosmetics, including sunscreen, among many other things. Titanium mines in central Ukraine account for about 6 percent of global production, according to Ukrainian media.
Lithium, a crucial element in batteries, including those in electric vehicles, and in other industrial products, including some medications. Ukraine has a third of Europe’s total reserves, although some sites are in war-contested areas. Before the war with Russia, Ukrainian officials suggested to Elon Musk that he invest in Ukrainian lithium mines.
Rare earths, a group of more than a dozen metals, much less abundant than titanium or lithium, that are used in many high-tech sectors, including green energy, electronics and aerospace. Ukraine has substantial reserves that are mostly untapped, and it is unclear how expensive they would be to extract.
Manganese, used for steel smelting.
Zirconium, used in the ceramics industry, nuclear fuel rods and artificial diamonds.
Graphite, used in steel manufacturing and electric motors. Ukraine is one of the world’s leading producers.
Ukraine also has Europe’s largest reserves of uranium, used in nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons. Oil and natural gas fields dot several regions of Ukraine, and surveys conducted before the war found offshore natural gas reserves.
Why they’re valuable
Mr. Trump has said he wants revenue from the minerals as repayment for military aid that the United States has provided to Ukraine.
He also could be seeking access to gain a geopolitical advantage over Beijing: Ukraine could help break a Chinese near-monopoly on some rare earth metals needed for mobile phones, other electronics and possibly future technologies.
“It’s clear that Europe, Japan, and the United States are all dependent on China for rare earth elements,” Serhiy Vyzhva, director of the Institute of Geology at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, said in an interview.
Other ores, minerals and energy are less strategic but still valuable. Ukrainian oil and natural gas reserves could be a source of revenue for the U.S.-controlled fund envisioned in the agreement.
How the minerals would actually be extracted has not been extensively discussed with the Trump administration, but developing those resources has been long-term goal for Ukraine.
“Our geological base is similar to that of Canada and South Africa, both of which have extensive mineral resources,” said Mr. Vyzhva, the Ukrainian geologist.
The country’s most productive mines produce iron, titanium, manganese and zirconium, he said, adding that Ukraine was “highly interested” in investment, but its “main focus remains on ending the war.”
Remaining obstacles
When Mr. Zelensky last fall introduced the idea of trading natural resources for military support, he told the Ukrainian Parliament the country’s mineral wealth was worth “trillions” of dollars. That bonanza would be available to “either Russia and its allies or Ukraine and the democratic world” depending on who won the war, he said.
The resources are valuable but experts say that Mr. Zelensky’s estimate is exaggerated. Much exploration remains to be done to assess the true value of the country’s critical minerals, they say, and cumbersome bureaucracy and corruption has limited investment. Under a Soviet-era policy, for example, information about some reserves are classified as state secrets, preventing foreigners from even studying them, a Ukrainian business newspaper reported.
The Ukrainian government’s revenues last year from natural resources royalties were $1.1 billion, far less than the hundreds of billions of dollars Mr. Trump has said he is seeking from the agreement.
The International Energy Agency reported in 2023 that lithium is now mined in sufficient quantities around the world to meet global demand.
One lithium deposit and several rare earth deposits are in Ukrainian territory currently occupied by Russia. Some offshore natural gas deposits in the Black Sea are also inaccessible while fighting continues; some drilling platforms have become contested sea bases for both Russian and Ukrainian marines.
American and other international oil companies have also previously tried to do business in Ukraine.
Before Russia’s military incursion in eastern Ukraine in 2014, Ukraine cut deals with Chevron and Shell to explore for shale gas, which the country possesses in abundance — though it has not been economically viable to extract. Shell’s project ended with the Russian incursion, which occupied areas near the site of its project in the Donetsk region. Chevron’s project was canceled because of geological challenges.
www.nytimes.com
whay do yall think about this???
Terms of the agreement
It is not clear if the two sides have reached final agreement on the terms of the deal.
A draft seen by The New York Times dated Feb. 25 described the creation of a U.S.-controlled fund that would receive revenue from Ukraine’s natural resources.
Missing from the draft was Mr. Trump’s initial demand that Ukraine contribute $500 billion to a fund owned by the United States and pay back twice the amount of any future American aid.
Under the draft agreement, Ukraine would contribute into the fund half of its revenues from the future monetization of natural resources, including critical minerals, oil and gas, as well as earnings from associated infrastructure, such as liquefied natural gas terminals and port infrastructure.
- The fund would not draw on revenue from existing mines, oil wells and other natural resources businesses.
- The United States would own the maximum financial interest in the fund allowed under American law, though not necessarily all. It is unclear how that would be interpreted.
- The fund would be designed to reinvest some revenues into Ukraine.
Security guarantee
The draft vaguely referenced security guarantees, but did not signal any specific U.S. commitment to safeguarding Ukraine’s security — a provision Kyiv has vigorously pressed to include as its war against Russia enters its fourth year.
A copy of the agreement obtained Wednesday by The New York Times included a sentence stating that the United States “supports Ukraine’s effort to obtain security guarantees needed to establish lasting peace.” Previous drafts did not have the phrase.
Approval process
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine is expected to travel to Washington on Friday to sign the agreement with President Trump. The draft obtained by The Times showed Scott Bessent, the U.S. Treasury secretary, and Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s economy minister, as the initial signatories.
It was not clear whether the draft, dated Tuesday, was a final version.
Ukraine’s mineral resources
Ukraine controls more than 100 major deposits of critical minerals, according to a study by the Kyiv School of Economics, along with modest oil and natural gas reserves.
Ukraine also has deposits of 20 of the 50 minerals the U.S. Geological Survey lists as critical for America’s economic development and defense, including:
Titanium, used in construction, airplanes, orthopedic implants and as an additive in paint and cosmetics, including sunscreen, among many other things. Titanium mines in central Ukraine account for about 6 percent of global production, according to Ukrainian media.
Lithium, a crucial element in batteries, including those in electric vehicles, and in other industrial products, including some medications. Ukraine has a third of Europe’s total reserves, although some sites are in war-contested areas. Before the war with Russia, Ukrainian officials suggested to Elon Musk that he invest in Ukrainian lithium mines.
Rare earths, a group of more than a dozen metals, much less abundant than titanium or lithium, that are used in many high-tech sectors, including green energy, electronics and aerospace. Ukraine has substantial reserves that are mostly untapped, and it is unclear how expensive they would be to extract.
Manganese, used for steel smelting.
Zirconium, used in the ceramics industry, nuclear fuel rods and artificial diamonds.
Graphite, used in steel manufacturing and electric motors. Ukraine is one of the world’s leading producers.
Ukraine also has Europe’s largest reserves of uranium, used in nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons. Oil and natural gas fields dot several regions of Ukraine, and surveys conducted before the war found offshore natural gas reserves.
Why they’re valuable
Mr. Trump has said he wants revenue from the minerals as repayment for military aid that the United States has provided to Ukraine.
He also could be seeking access to gain a geopolitical advantage over Beijing: Ukraine could help break a Chinese near-monopoly on some rare earth metals needed for mobile phones, other electronics and possibly future technologies.
“It’s clear that Europe, Japan, and the United States are all dependent on China for rare earth elements,” Serhiy Vyzhva, director of the Institute of Geology at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, said in an interview.
Other ores, minerals and energy are less strategic but still valuable. Ukrainian oil and natural gas reserves could be a source of revenue for the U.S.-controlled fund envisioned in the agreement.
How the minerals would actually be extracted has not been extensively discussed with the Trump administration, but developing those resources has been long-term goal for Ukraine.
“Our geological base is similar to that of Canada and South Africa, both of which have extensive mineral resources,” said Mr. Vyzhva, the Ukrainian geologist.
The country’s most productive mines produce iron, titanium, manganese and zirconium, he said, adding that Ukraine was “highly interested” in investment, but its “main focus remains on ending the war.”
Remaining obstacles
When Mr. Zelensky last fall introduced the idea of trading natural resources for military support, he told the Ukrainian Parliament the country’s mineral wealth was worth “trillions” of dollars. That bonanza would be available to “either Russia and its allies or Ukraine and the democratic world” depending on who won the war, he said.
The resources are valuable but experts say that Mr. Zelensky’s estimate is exaggerated. Much exploration remains to be done to assess the true value of the country’s critical minerals, they say, and cumbersome bureaucracy and corruption has limited investment. Under a Soviet-era policy, for example, information about some reserves are classified as state secrets, preventing foreigners from even studying them, a Ukrainian business newspaper reported.
The Ukrainian government’s revenues last year from natural resources royalties were $1.1 billion, far less than the hundreds of billions of dollars Mr. Trump has said he is seeking from the agreement.
The International Energy Agency reported in 2023 that lithium is now mined in sufficient quantities around the world to meet global demand.
One lithium deposit and several rare earth deposits are in Ukrainian territory currently occupied by Russia. Some offshore natural gas deposits in the Black Sea are also inaccessible while fighting continues; some drilling platforms have become contested sea bases for both Russian and Ukrainian marines.
American and other international oil companies have also previously tried to do business in Ukraine.
Before Russia’s military incursion in eastern Ukraine in 2014, Ukraine cut deals with Chevron and Shell to explore for shale gas, which the country possesses in abundance — though it has not been economically viable to extract. Shell’s project ended with the Russian incursion, which occupied areas near the site of its project in the Donetsk region. Chevron’s project was canceled because of geological challenges.
What We Know About the U.S.-Ukraine Minerals Deal
A draft agreement discussed on Tuesday does not include a $500 billion payout the Trump administration demanded earlier.
whay do yall think about this???
And so it begins!!!Officials in Ukraine and the Trump administration said they have reached a deal that would give the United States revenues from Ukraine’s minerals and other natural resources, after an intense pressure campaign by the American president.
Terms of the agreement
It is not clear if the two sides have reached final agreement on the terms of the deal.
A draft seen by The New York Times dated Feb. 25 described the creation of a U.S.-controlled fund that would receive revenue from Ukraine’s natural resources.
Missing from the draft was Mr. Trump’s initial demand that Ukraine contribute $500 billion to a fund owned by the United States and pay back twice the amount of any future American aid.
Under the draft agreement, Ukraine would contribute into the fund half of its revenues from the future monetization of natural resources, including critical minerals, oil and gas, as well as earnings from associated infrastructure, such as liquefied natural gas terminals and port infrastructure.
- The fund would not draw on revenue from existing mines, oil wells and other natural resources businesses.
- The United States would own the maximum financial interest in the fund allowed under American law, though not necessarily all. It is unclear how that would be interpreted.
- The fund would be designed to reinvest some revenues into Ukraine.
Security guarantee
The draft vaguely referenced security guarantees, but did not signal any specific U.S. commitment to safeguarding Ukraine’s security — a provision Kyiv has vigorously pressed to include as its war against Russia enters its fourth year.
A copy of the agreement obtained Wednesday by The New York Times included a sentence stating that the United States “supports Ukraine’s effort to obtain security guarantees needed to establish lasting peace.” Previous drafts did not have the phrase.
Approval process
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine is expected to travel to Washington on Friday to sign the agreement with President Trump. The draft obtained by The Times showed Scott Bessent, the U.S. Treasury secretary, and Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s economy minister, as the initial signatories.
It was not clear whether the draft, dated Tuesday, was a final version.
Ukraine’s mineral resources
Ukraine controls more than 100 major deposits of critical minerals, according to a study by the Kyiv School of Economics, along with modest oil and natural gas reserves.
Ukraine also has deposits of 20 of the 50 minerals the U.S. Geological Survey lists as critical for America’s economic development and defense, including:
Titanium, used in construction, airplanes, orthopedic implants and as an additive in paint and cosmetics, including sunscreen, among many other things. Titanium mines in central Ukraine account for about 6 percent of global production, according to Ukrainian media.
Lithium, a crucial element in batteries, including those in electric vehicles, and in other industrial products, including some medications. Ukraine has a third of Europe’s total reserves, although some sites are in war-contested areas. Before the war with Russia, Ukrainian officials suggested to Elon Musk that he invest in Ukrainian lithium mines.
Rare earths, a group of more than a dozen metals, much less abundant than titanium or lithium, that are used in many high-tech sectors, including green energy, electronics and aerospace. Ukraine has substantial reserves that are mostly untapped, and it is unclear how expensive they would be to extract.
Manganese, used for steel smelting.
Zirconium, used in the ceramics industry, nuclear fuel rods and artificial diamonds.
Graphite, used in steel manufacturing and electric motors. Ukraine is one of the world’s leading producers.
Ukraine also has Europe’s largest reserves of uranium, used in nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons. Oil and natural gas fields dot several regions of Ukraine, and surveys conducted before the war found offshore natural gas reserves.
Why they’re valuable
Mr. Trump has said he wants revenue from the minerals as repayment for military aid that the United States has provided to Ukraine.
He also could be seeking access to gain a geopolitical advantage over Beijing: Ukraine could help break a Chinese near-monopoly on some rare earth metals needed for mobile phones, other electronics and possibly future technologies.
“It’s clear that Europe, Japan, and the United States are all dependent on China for rare earth elements,” Serhiy Vyzhva, director of the Institute of Geology at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, said in an interview.
Other ores, minerals and energy are less strategic but still valuable. Ukrainian oil and natural gas reserves could be a source of revenue for the U.S.-controlled fund envisioned in the agreement.
How the minerals would actually be extracted has not been extensively discussed with the Trump administration, but developing those resources has been long-term goal for Ukraine.
“Our geological base is similar to that of Canada and South Africa, both of which have extensive mineral resources,” said Mr. Vyzhva, the Ukrainian geologist.
The country’s most productive mines produce iron, titanium, manganese and zirconium, he said, adding that Ukraine was “highly interested” in investment, but its “main focus remains on ending the war.”
Remaining obstacles
When Mr. Zelensky last fall introduced the idea of trading natural resources for military support, he told the Ukrainian Parliament the country’s mineral wealth was worth “trillions” of dollars. That bonanza would be available to “either Russia and its allies or Ukraine and the democratic world” depending on who won the war, he said.
The resources are valuable but experts say that Mr. Zelensky’s estimate is exaggerated. Much exploration remains to be done to assess the true value of the country’s critical minerals, they say, and cumbersome bureaucracy and corruption has limited investment. Under a Soviet-era policy, for example, information about some reserves are classified as state secrets, preventing foreigners from even studying them, a Ukrainian business newspaper reported.
The Ukrainian government’s revenues last year from natural resources royalties were $1.1 billion, far less than the hundreds of billions of dollars Mr. Trump has said he is seeking from the agreement.
The International Energy Agency reported in 2023 that lithium is now mined in sufficient quantities around the world to meet global demand.
One lithium deposit and several rare earth deposits are in Ukrainian territory currently occupied by Russia. Some offshore natural gas deposits in the Black Sea are also inaccessible while fighting continues; some drilling platforms have become contested sea bases for both Russian and Ukrainian marines.
American and other international oil companies have also previously tried to do business in Ukraine.
Before Russia’s military incursion in eastern Ukraine in 2014, Ukraine cut deals with Chevron and Shell to explore for shale gas, which the country possesses in abundance — though it has not been economically viable to extract. Shell’s project ended with the Russian incursion, which occupied areas near the site of its project in the Donetsk region. Chevron’s project was canceled because of geological challenges.
What We Know About the U.S.-Ukraine Minerals Deal
A draft agreement discussed on Tuesday does not include a $500 billion payout the Trump administration demanded earlier.
whay do yall think about this???