Ukrainian minerals: Trump uses them as a means of lining for military aid

Ukrainian minerals: Trump uses them as a means of lining for military aid

US President Donald Trump has indicated that he demands access to the mineral deposits of Ukraine in exchange for future military aid that Kiev needs to continue to defend itself against the aggression in Russia. This remark illustrates Trump's transactional approach to war in Ukraine, but was not completely unexpected. The USA and other western countries have long made an eye on the mineral wealth of Ukraine.

Trump's conditions for military aid

"We invest hundreds of billions of dollars. They have great rare earths. And I want security for the rare earths and they are ready to do that," said Trump on Monday in his office. However, he did not specifically said what Ukraine promised. Before that, he had indicated that future support should be made available as loans and that Ukraine negotiations would be linked to Russia.

Comparison of military aid under bidges and Trump

under the former US President Joe Biden since the beginning of the comprehensive Russian invasion of military aids in February 2022. Biden argued that the help was necessary because Ukraine's victory was decisive for the United States's own security. Trump, on the other hand, made it clear that he believes that the United States should no longer help without getting anything.

possible cooperation in mining

Although Trump did not give any concrete details about what he wanted from Kiev, an agreement on a deeper cooperation between the USA and Ukraine in the area of minerals was already in planning months before taking office in January. A Memorandum of Understanding, created last year under the bidges, stipulated that the United States is promoting investment opportunities in the mining projects of Ukraine for American companies. In return, Ukraine should create economic incentives and implement good business and environmental practices.

Ukrainian mineral deposits as strategic strength

Ukraine already has a similar agreement with the European Union, which was signed in 2021. Adam Mycyk, partner in the Kiev branch of the global law firm Denton, said that the goal of the agreement - the securing of critical mineral supplies from Ukraine - remains unchanged. "It remains to be seen which form such an agreement could assume, but it would be in the best interest of Ukraine to maximize the processing and value added of minerals as far as possible by Ukrainian companies," says MyCyk.

Answer from Ukraine and strategic plans

Kiev has not yet responded to the statements of Trump, but has argued in the past that the mineral deposits are one of the reasons why the West should support Ukraine - to prevent these strategically important resources falling into Russian hands. The Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj called the possibility of future investments in the country's natural resources by western allies as the decisive part of his "victory plan".

opportunities for energy supply and economy

Nataliya Katser-Buchkovska, co-founder of the Ukrainian sustainable investment fund, expressed that an agreement that brings US investments in the mining of Ukraine would be advantageous for both sides. The United States is largely dependent on imports for the required minerals, many of them come from China. Of the 50 minerals classified as critically, the United States was completely dependent on imports for 12 and over 50% in another 16, according to the United States Geological Survey.

global dominance of China in the area of minerals

"The occurrence of Ukraine is therefore globally significant and offer a diversification of dominant producers such as China. It is crucial to keep these resources under Ukrainian control in order to protect their economic sovereignty," added MyCyk.