Trump to Ucriana: Zelensky wants aid? Give us the rare earths element

US president proposes Kiev pledge its immense mineral resources for American support

US President Donald Trump has said he wants to negotiate an agreement with Ukraine to pledge its mineral resources in exchange for US aid. Speaking from the Oval Office, he pointed out that the US is investing huge sums in supporting Kiev, while Europe spends much less. ‘They would pledge their rare earth and other resources in exchange for what we give them. We are providing money and resources, while Europe is billions of dollars behind,’ Trump said.

The importance of rare earths for global industry

Rare earths are key mining elements for several strategic sectors, including nuclear, military, aerospace, technology and medicine. Ukraine is among the world’s top ten countries in terms of availability of mineral resources, with around 5% of global reserves. Before the war, the country had around 20,000 mineral deposits, of which more than 3,000 were active.

Ukraine’s mineral wealth

Ukraine has significant reserves of essential minerals:

Titanium (7% of world reserves), crucial for the military, aerospace and automotive industries;
Lithium (500,000 tonnes), needed for batteries, ceramics and glass;
Gallium, crucial for semiconductors and LEDs;
Neon, essential for the production of electronic chips;
Beryllium, used in the nuclear and aerospace industries;
Uranium, strategic for power generation and military applications;
Zirconium and apatite, important for the nuclear and medical industries;
Iron and manganese, essential for the production of green steel;
Non-ferrous metals such as copper, lead, zinc and silver;
Graphite, with Ukraine possessing 20% of global resources.

A negotiation that could change the balance

Trump’s proposal could mark a turning point in US-Ukraine relations, linking US support to control over Kiev’s vast mineral resources. The issue is part of a broader context of economic and geopolitical rivalry, with the US aiming to reduce dependence on Chinese supplies of rare earths by securing access to Ukrainian deposits.

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