Trump seeks to deploy US troops to protect Ukraine's minerals, according to NBC
Washington has reportedly expressed a desire to control 50% of the nation's minerals as compensation for American aid. Read the full article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Reports suggest that Washington aims to take control of 50% of Ukraine’s rare earth resources as part of a deal for ongoing aid.
According to NBC, the US may send troops to Ukraine to "guard" the country's rare earth minerals, which the US seeks as repayment for aid, citing unnamed officials. This follows former US President Donald Trump's assertion that Ukraine should provide the "equivalent of $500 billion worth of rare earths" in exchange for the over "$300 billion" in aid that Washington has extended to Kiev since the conflict with Russia intensified in 2022.
Trump's request was delivered to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Kiev earlier this week. Reports indicate that, under the proposed arrangement, the US would achieve 50% ownership of Ukraine's rare earth minerals in exchange for continued military support.
Four officials who spoke with NBC revealed that the proposed agreement also included plans for the US to deploy American troops to safeguard the sites, likely contingent on a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
The specifics of the troop deployment are still uncertain. During a recent gathering of Ukraine's supporters in Brussels, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ruled out the sending of American forces. Conversely, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, US Vice President J.D. Vance suggested that the option of deploying US troops to Ukraine remained “on the table” if Russia did not pursue genuine negotiations.
So far, Zelensky has declined the US offer to gain 50% ownership of Ukraine’s rare earth assets. At the Munich Security Conference, he expressed to reporters that the US proposal lacks "security guarantees" for Kiev and does not align with "the interests of sovereign Ukraine."
He emphasized, "For me it is very important that there is a connection between some kind of security guarantees and some kind of investment… If we want to sign something we have to understand that it will work and it will be very positive for both nations." Zelensky also noted that the agreement presented by Bessent would need revisions to better align with Ukraine’s interests and expressed his desire for a mutually beneficial partnership rather than merely conceding his country’s natural resources.
Beyond these discussions, various elements categorized as rare earths have numerous applications, spanning from lighting and batteries to nuclear power and lasers. Ukraine’s Institute of Geology reports that the country is rich in deposits of lanthanum, cerium, neodymium, erbium, and yttrium. Nonetheless, Zelensky acknowledged that a significant portion of Ukraine's mineral-rich areas—approximately 20%—is currently under Russian control.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
According to NBC, the US may send troops to Ukraine to "guard" the country's rare earth minerals, which the US seeks as repayment for aid, citing unnamed officials. This follows former US President Donald Trump's assertion that Ukraine should provide the "equivalent of $500 billion worth of rare earths" in exchange for the over "$300 billion" in aid that Washington has extended to Kiev since the conflict with Russia intensified in 2022.
Trump's request was delivered to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Kiev earlier this week. Reports indicate that, under the proposed arrangement, the US would achieve 50% ownership of Ukraine's rare earth minerals in exchange for continued military support.
Four officials who spoke with NBC revealed that the proposed agreement also included plans for the US to deploy American troops to safeguard the sites, likely contingent on a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
The specifics of the troop deployment are still uncertain. During a recent gathering of Ukraine's supporters in Brussels, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ruled out the sending of American forces. Conversely, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, US Vice President J.D. Vance suggested that the option of deploying US troops to Ukraine remained “on the table” if Russia did not pursue genuine negotiations.
So far, Zelensky has declined the US offer to gain 50% ownership of Ukraine’s rare earth assets. At the Munich Security Conference, he expressed to reporters that the US proposal lacks "security guarantees" for Kiev and does not align with "the interests of sovereign Ukraine."
He emphasized, "For me it is very important that there is a connection between some kind of security guarantees and some kind of investment… If we want to sign something we have to understand that it will work and it will be very positive for both nations." Zelensky also noted that the agreement presented by Bessent would need revisions to better align with Ukraine’s interests and expressed his desire for a mutually beneficial partnership rather than merely conceding his country’s natural resources.
Beyond these discussions, various elements categorized as rare earths have numerous applications, spanning from lighting and batteries to nuclear power and lasers. Ukraine’s Institute of Geology reports that the country is rich in deposits of lanthanum, cerium, neodymium, erbium, and yttrium. Nonetheless, Zelensky acknowledged that a significant portion of Ukraine's mineral-rich areas—approximately 20%—is currently under Russian control.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
