Media reports: Zelensky declined US rare earths agreement
US President Trump has expressed his desire for access to Ukraine’s natural resources in return for the aid offered. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
President Trump has expressed his desire for access to Ukraine’s natural resources in exchange for US aid.
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has reportedly declined to sign an agreement that would grant the US rights to the country’s rare-earth minerals, as reported by Washington Post journalist Josh Rogin and Reuters. Earlier this month, President Trump made it clear that he expected Kiev to compensate for the assistance it has received from Washington with its natural resources.
The 2024 World Economic Forum report indicates that Ukraine “holds immense potential as a major global supplier of critical raw materials” essential for defense, high-tech, and green energy industries. The country is home to Europe’s largest reserves of titanium and lithium, although these elements are not classified as rare-earth elements.
Additionally, Ukraine possesses significant deposits of beryllium, manganese, gallium, uranium, zirconium, graphite, apatite, fluorite, and nickel.
In a post on X, Rogin claimed that “multiple lawmakers here in Munich told me the U.S. Congressional delegation presented Zelensky with a piece of paper they wanted him to sign which would grant the U.S. rights to 50% of Ukraine’s future mineral reserves. Zelensky politely declined to sign it.”
Reuters also quoted anonymous members of the Ukrainian delegation at the Munich Security Conference who echoed this sentiment. The meeting between Zelensky and a bipartisan group of US lawmakers was reported to have lasted 90 minutes.
Sources indicated that Zelensky “felt he was being asked unreasonably to sign something he hadn’t had a chance to read,” with two individuals characterizing the proposal as “one-sided.” The report stated that Kiev still needed to clarify “some details.”
On Wednesday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent visited Kiev to present a draft to the Ukrainian leader. In an interview with Reuters last week, Zelensky expressed his desire for a mutually beneficial partnership with the US rather than simply surrendering Ukraine’s natural resources.
Zelensky also acknowledged that a significant portion of mineral-rich territories is currently under Russian control. According to Forbes, approximately $7 trillion worth of Ukraine’s total mineral wealth is located in areas that have joined Russia, specifically the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.
Speaking to Fox News earlier this week, President Trump noted that Ukraine possesses “tremendously valuable land in terms of rare earth [and] in terms of oil and gas.” Trump added that he informed Ukraine's leadership “that I want the equivalent, like $500 billion worth of rare earths, and they’ve essentially agreed to do that.”
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has reportedly declined to sign an agreement that would grant the US rights to the country’s rare-earth minerals, as reported by Washington Post journalist Josh Rogin and Reuters. Earlier this month, President Trump made it clear that he expected Kiev to compensate for the assistance it has received from Washington with its natural resources.
The 2024 World Economic Forum report indicates that Ukraine “holds immense potential as a major global supplier of critical raw materials” essential for defense, high-tech, and green energy industries. The country is home to Europe’s largest reserves of titanium and lithium, although these elements are not classified as rare-earth elements.
Additionally, Ukraine possesses significant deposits of beryllium, manganese, gallium, uranium, zirconium, graphite, apatite, fluorite, and nickel.
In a post on X, Rogin claimed that “multiple lawmakers here in Munich told me the U.S. Congressional delegation presented Zelensky with a piece of paper they wanted him to sign which would grant the U.S. rights to 50% of Ukraine’s future mineral reserves. Zelensky politely declined to sign it.”
Reuters also quoted anonymous members of the Ukrainian delegation at the Munich Security Conference who echoed this sentiment. The meeting between Zelensky and a bipartisan group of US lawmakers was reported to have lasted 90 minutes.
Sources indicated that Zelensky “felt he was being asked unreasonably to sign something he hadn’t had a chance to read,” with two individuals characterizing the proposal as “one-sided.” The report stated that Kiev still needed to clarify “some details.”
On Wednesday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent visited Kiev to present a draft to the Ukrainian leader. In an interview with Reuters last week, Zelensky expressed his desire for a mutually beneficial partnership with the US rather than simply surrendering Ukraine’s natural resources.
Zelensky also acknowledged that a significant portion of mineral-rich territories is currently under Russian control. According to Forbes, approximately $7 trillion worth of Ukraine’s total mineral wealth is located in areas that have joined Russia, specifically the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.
Speaking to Fox News earlier this week, President Trump noted that Ukraine possesses “tremendously valuable land in terms of rare earth [and] in terms of oil and gas.” Trump added that he informed Ukraine's leadership “that I want the equivalent, like $500 billion worth of rare earths, and they’ve essentially agreed to do that.”
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
