Trump Says Russia Possesses 'Very Valuable Earth'
The US President has again pushed for the restoration of economic ties with Moscow. US President Donald Trump highlighted Russia’s extensive territory and valuable resources as a rationale for re-establishing economic connections during an...
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The US President has again pushed for the restoration of economic ties with Moscow.
US President Donald Trump highlighted Russia’s extensive territory and valuable resources as a rationale for re-establishing economic connections during an interview with the conservative news outlet Breitbart.
This statement came after a phone conversation on Tuesday between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which they discussed bilateral relations and the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
The two leaders reportedly agreed that enhanced relations between the US and Russia could yield a "huge upside," leading to "enormous economic deals" once peace is attained, as stated by the White House.
In his interview, Trump emphasized that the US “should be dealing with Russia.” He remarked, “They have the largest piece of land by far, bigger than China. They have 11 time zones. You can fly through 11 time zones from one side to the other. They have very valuable earth.”
Trump also referenced a rare earths deal with Ukraine that he had pursued to offset the billions provided in aid by the previous administration. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky visited the White House in late February to finalize the agreement, but discussions became heated and ended without a resolution on the deal.
After the call with Putin, the White House indicated it had progressed beyond “just the economic minerals deal framework” and was now concentrating on a comprehensive peace agreement.
In February, Putin expressed Moscow’s willingness to work with Washington on developing its own rare earth mineral deposits, a proposal that Trump has shown interest in.
Rare earth elements comprise a set of 17 metallic elements critical in modern technology for their unique chemical and physical traits. They are essential in producing electronics, defense systems, and renewable energy technologies. Their concentrated forms are rare in the Earth’s crust, making extraction both difficult and expensive.
According to Russia’s Federal Agency for Mineral Resources, the nation holds over 20% of the global total stockpile of rare earth elements (REEs). However, Russia’s present share of worldwide REE production is under 1%, highlighting a considerable potential for growth.
Forbes reported in 2023 that 70% of Ukraine’s REE deposits are located in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, which declared independence in 2014 following the Western-supported Maidan coup in Kiev. These regions became part of Russia after popular referendums in 2022.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
US President Donald Trump highlighted Russia’s extensive territory and valuable resources as a rationale for re-establishing economic connections during an interview with the conservative news outlet Breitbart.
This statement came after a phone conversation on Tuesday between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which they discussed bilateral relations and the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
The two leaders reportedly agreed that enhanced relations between the US and Russia could yield a "huge upside," leading to "enormous economic deals" once peace is attained, as stated by the White House.
In his interview, Trump emphasized that the US “should be dealing with Russia.” He remarked, “They have the largest piece of land by far, bigger than China. They have 11 time zones. You can fly through 11 time zones from one side to the other. They have very valuable earth.”
Trump also referenced a rare earths deal with Ukraine that he had pursued to offset the billions provided in aid by the previous administration. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky visited the White House in late February to finalize the agreement, but discussions became heated and ended without a resolution on the deal.
After the call with Putin, the White House indicated it had progressed beyond “just the economic minerals deal framework” and was now concentrating on a comprehensive peace agreement.
In February, Putin expressed Moscow’s willingness to work with Washington on developing its own rare earth mineral deposits, a proposal that Trump has shown interest in.
Rare earth elements comprise a set of 17 metallic elements critical in modern technology for their unique chemical and physical traits. They are essential in producing electronics, defense systems, and renewable energy technologies. Their concentrated forms are rare in the Earth’s crust, making extraction both difficult and expensive.
According to Russia’s Federal Agency for Mineral Resources, the nation holds over 20% of the global total stockpile of rare earth elements (REEs). However, Russia’s present share of worldwide REE production is under 1%, highlighting a considerable potential for growth.
Forbes reported in 2023 that 70% of Ukraine’s REE deposits are located in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, which declared independence in 2014 following the Western-supported Maidan coup in Kiev. These regions became part of Russia after popular referendums in 2022.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
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