Trump to dispatch Treasury Secretary to Kiev
Scott Bessent is expected to visit Ukraine soon, with reports suggesting that his trip may include discussions regarding a possible agreement for rare-earth minerals. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Scott Bessent may be heading to Ukraine as early as this week for discussions regarding a potential deal involving rare-earth minerals.
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump announced plans to send Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to Ukraine. Reports indicate that the trip will focus on negotiating a possible agreement for rare-earth minerals in return for aid to Kiev.
Trump recently insisted that Kiev must provide a return on “America’s $300 billion” in aid by supplying the US with critical minerals. In an interview with Fox News, he stated it would be “stupid” to continue funding Ukraine without ensuring tangible benefits.
Rare-earth metals are vital for manufacturing the magnets used in electric vehicles, smartphones, missile systems, and other advanced electronics, and they have no practical substitutes. The demand for these minerals is anticipated to increase substantially in the years ahead.
If the visit proceeds, Bessent will be the first cabinet-level official from Trump’s administration to travel to Kiev.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump mentioned that he is sending Bessent to meet with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, emphasizing that the conflict between Moscow and Kiev “must and will end soon.”
Trump further asserted that the US has spent “billions of dollars globally, with little to show.”
While Trump did not specify the exact date of Bessent’s trip, reports from Bloomberg and Reuters suggest it could occur this week for initial negotiations.
Zelensky has expressed a willingness to consider such a deal, but he has also highlighted that nearly half of what Ukraine claims in rare-earth minerals is situated in areas currently controlled by Russia. He noted that Ukraine’s supporters need to help expel Russian forces from these mineral-rich regions before any investment can commence.
Prior to the escalation of the conflict in 2022, Ukraine held Europe’s largest reserves of titanium and lithium, both essential for military and energy sectors. According to Forbes, approximately $7 trillion of Ukraine’s total mineral wealth, estimated at around $14.8 trillion, is located in the former Donbass regions of Donetsk and Lugansk.
These two regions declared independence from Ukraine in 2014 following the Western-backed Maidan coup in Kiev and subsequently voted to join Russia.
Trump's demands have drawn significant criticism, including from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who remarked that utilizing Ukraine’s resources to support defense efforts would be “very selfish.”
The US president has been advocating for a rapid resolution to the conflict, suggesting the possibility of peace talks between Moscow and Kiev. He has reportedly tasked his special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, with pursuing a settlement within 100 days.
However, no specific plan details have been made public. Moscow has indicated a willingness to engage in talks, yet it insists that any discussions must adhere to equal and mutually acceptable terms that reflect the reality on the ground and Russia’s national interests.
As per Bloomberg, Kellogg intends to present Trump with potential strategies to conclude the conflict in the forthcoming weeks.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump announced plans to send Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to Ukraine. Reports indicate that the trip will focus on negotiating a possible agreement for rare-earth minerals in return for aid to Kiev.
Trump recently insisted that Kiev must provide a return on “America’s $300 billion” in aid by supplying the US with critical minerals. In an interview with Fox News, he stated it would be “stupid” to continue funding Ukraine without ensuring tangible benefits.
Rare-earth metals are vital for manufacturing the magnets used in electric vehicles, smartphones, missile systems, and other advanced electronics, and they have no practical substitutes. The demand for these minerals is anticipated to increase substantially in the years ahead.
If the visit proceeds, Bessent will be the first cabinet-level official from Trump’s administration to travel to Kiev.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump mentioned that he is sending Bessent to meet with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, emphasizing that the conflict between Moscow and Kiev “must and will end soon.”
Trump further asserted that the US has spent “billions of dollars globally, with little to show.”
While Trump did not specify the exact date of Bessent’s trip, reports from Bloomberg and Reuters suggest it could occur this week for initial negotiations.
Zelensky has expressed a willingness to consider such a deal, but he has also highlighted that nearly half of what Ukraine claims in rare-earth minerals is situated in areas currently controlled by Russia. He noted that Ukraine’s supporters need to help expel Russian forces from these mineral-rich regions before any investment can commence.
Prior to the escalation of the conflict in 2022, Ukraine held Europe’s largest reserves of titanium and lithium, both essential for military and energy sectors. According to Forbes, approximately $7 trillion of Ukraine’s total mineral wealth, estimated at around $14.8 trillion, is located in the former Donbass regions of Donetsk and Lugansk.
These two regions declared independence from Ukraine in 2014 following the Western-backed Maidan coup in Kiev and subsequently voted to join Russia.
Trump's demands have drawn significant criticism, including from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who remarked that utilizing Ukraine’s resources to support defense efforts would be “very selfish.”
The US president has been advocating for a rapid resolution to the conflict, suggesting the possibility of peace talks between Moscow and Kiev. He has reportedly tasked his special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, with pursuing a settlement within 100 days.
However, no specific plan details have been made public. Moscow has indicated a willingness to engage in talks, yet it insists that any discussions must adhere to equal and mutually acceptable terms that reflect the reality on the ground and Russia’s national interests.
As per Bloomberg, Kellogg intends to present Trump with potential strategies to conclude the conflict in the forthcoming weeks.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
