Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made a proposal to U.S. President Donald Trump. He is offering access to Ukraine’s valuable minerals, like rare earth elements and titanium, in return for financial and military help from the U.S.
Zelenskyy recently mentioned a map showing the large amounts of rare earth elements in Ukraine. These minerals are essential for making powerful magnets, electric motors, and electronics. He pointed out that although some of these resources are under Russian control, Ukraine still has a lot to offer.
In addition to rare earths, Ukraine has the biggest titanium reserves in Europe and important uranium supplies for nuclear energy. Much of the titanium is in the northwestern part of Ukraine, away from fighting.
Trump is interested in securing mineral supplies to rely less on China, and Zelenskyy is open to a deal. He explained that Australia and the U.S. should benefit from this partnership, saying, “The Americans helped the most, and therefore the Americans should earn the most.”
Amid ongoing conflicts, Russian forces are advancing in eastern Ukraine, increasing risks for Zelenskyy’s government. Ukrainian mineral resources are at risk, and Zelenskyy noticed that Russia knows a lot about these resources because of old surveys taken by the Soviet Union.
Beyond minerals, Zelenskyy wants to use Ukraine’s underground gas storage as a hub for U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies. “We are ready for contracts for LNG supplies to Ukraine and all of Europe,” he stated.
Zelenskyy is also asking to meet Trump before discussions between the U.S. and Russia begin. With the Munich Security Conference approaching, he wants to ensure that Ukraine has guarantees in any peace talks.
On the battlefield, Ukraine has been pushing back against Russian forces, while also working on new recruitment plans to increase their army. However, Zelenskyy did not specify how many new recruits they expect.
Zelenskyy is trying to shift Ukraine’s foreign policy to work more closely with Trump, focusing on minerals, energy, and security to get stronger U.S. support during the tough times ahead.
Leave a Reply