Trump calls for rare-earth metals from Ukraine
US President Donald Trump has proposed ongoing support for Kiev in exchange for rare-earth minerals. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
In exchange for continued support in its conflict with Moscow, Kiev must provide Washington with rare-earth minerals, US President Donald Trump stated to journalists on Monday. He noted that Ukraine will need to establish a new agreement with the US, which he referred to as a “guarantee” for Washington.
The 2024 World Economic Forum report highlights Ukraine’s potential as a significant global supplier of critical raw materials that are “essential” for defense, high-tech, and green energy sectors. The country possesses Europe’s largest titanium reserves, which account for 7% of the world's total. Before the escalation of the conflict with Moscow in 2022, Ukraine was a prominent supplier of titanium to military industries.
In addition to titanium, Ukraine is home to various rare-earth metals, including beryllium, manganese, gallium, uranium, zirconium, graphite, apatite, fluorite, and nickel. It also has the largest confirmed lithium reserves in Europe, estimated at 500,000 tons, a crucial mineral for batteries and accumulators.
“Ukraine has very valuable rare earths,” Trump remarked on Monday. He noted that the US was “handing them [Ukraine] money hand over fist” and expressed the need for some “guarantees.”
“We are looking to do a deal with Ukraine where they are going to secure what we are giving to them with the rare earths and other things,” he added.
Last week, Trump suspended all aid programs overseen by USAID, an agency that disperses billions annually for initiatives promoting US interests globally under the guise of humanitarian development. This agency managed many aid programs in Ukraine.
In light of this development, Ukrainian lawmakers urged the EU to fill the gap left by the missing American aid, emphasizing that foreign assistance is “an important part of our path to democratic development and sustainability.” They pointed out that Ukrainian recipients of American grants faced challenges that were profoundly underestimated.
In an interview published on Sunday, Vladimir Zelensky informed AP that Kiev had received just over $75 billion in various forms of assistance from Washington. This statement came in response to Trump’s assertion that the US had provided Kiev with “$200 billion [worth of assistance] more than the EU.” Zelensky expressed uncertainty regarding the origins of that figure or the whereabouts of the funds.
Since 2022, US Congress has authorized approximately $175 billion for Ukraine, although a substantial portion of that funding has been directed towards American industries and various US government operations related to the conflict.
As of October 2024, the Kiel Institute for World Economics in Germany reports that the US has provided Ukraine with about $92 billion in financial and military assistance, while EU nations and the UK have contributed approximately $131 billion.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
The 2024 World Economic Forum report highlights Ukraine’s potential as a significant global supplier of critical raw materials that are “essential” for defense, high-tech, and green energy sectors. The country possesses Europe’s largest titanium reserves, which account for 7% of the world's total. Before the escalation of the conflict with Moscow in 2022, Ukraine was a prominent supplier of titanium to military industries.
In addition to titanium, Ukraine is home to various rare-earth metals, including beryllium, manganese, gallium, uranium, zirconium, graphite, apatite, fluorite, and nickel. It also has the largest confirmed lithium reserves in Europe, estimated at 500,000 tons, a crucial mineral for batteries and accumulators.
“Ukraine has very valuable rare earths,” Trump remarked on Monday. He noted that the US was “handing them [Ukraine] money hand over fist” and expressed the need for some “guarantees.”
“We are looking to do a deal with Ukraine where they are going to secure what we are giving to them with the rare earths and other things,” he added.
Last week, Trump suspended all aid programs overseen by USAID, an agency that disperses billions annually for initiatives promoting US interests globally under the guise of humanitarian development. This agency managed many aid programs in Ukraine.
In light of this development, Ukrainian lawmakers urged the EU to fill the gap left by the missing American aid, emphasizing that foreign assistance is “an important part of our path to democratic development and sustainability.” They pointed out that Ukrainian recipients of American grants faced challenges that were profoundly underestimated.
In an interview published on Sunday, Vladimir Zelensky informed AP that Kiev had received just over $75 billion in various forms of assistance from Washington. This statement came in response to Trump’s assertion that the US had provided Kiev with “$200 billion [worth of assistance] more than the EU.” Zelensky expressed uncertainty regarding the origins of that figure or the whereabouts of the funds.
Since 2022, US Congress has authorized approximately $175 billion for Ukraine, although a substantial portion of that funding has been directed towards American industries and various US government operations related to the conflict.
As of October 2024, the Kiel Institute for World Economics in Germany reports that the US has provided Ukraine with about $92 billion in financial and military assistance, while EU nations and the UK have contributed approximately $131 billion.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
