President Donald Trump has suggested that continued U.S. support for Ukraine depends on securing a deal for rare earth metals, warning that Ukraine could “become Russia” without an agreement.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump stated that he has demanded the equivalent of $500 billion in rare earth metals from Ukraine in exchange for ongoing U.S. assistance.
According to him, Ukrainian officials have "basically already agreed" to the deal, ensuring that America does not feel like it is "giving money away for nothing."
Previously, Trump had mentioned a much smaller agreement, telling The New York Post that he planned to negotiate a $500 million deal granting the U.S. access to Ukrainian rare earth minerals and gas in exchange for security guarantees in a potential peace settlement.
Trump also made it clear that Ukraine must "do something" to justify continued U.S. aid. He emphasized that "it is impossible to continue allocating money to them" under the current circumstances, suggesting that a new arrangement is necessary.
Zelensky Pushes Back on "Free" Access
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded by stating that Ukraine will not hand over its rare earth metals to the U.S. for free but is open to joint development projects.
Speaking to Reuters, Zelensky acknowledged America’s significant support for Ukraine and agreed that U.S. companies should receive priority access to these valuable resources.
He also warned that a significant portion of Ukraine’s critical mineral wealth is currently under Russian occupation, urging greater Western support to prevent these resources from falling into Moscow’s hands.
The High Stakes of Ukraine’s Mineral Wealth
Ukraine holds an estimated $15 trillion in mineral resources, according to Forbes. About 70% of these deposits are located in partially occupied regions, including Luhansk, Donetsk, and Dnipropetrovsk.
One of Ukraine’s most valuable resources is lithium, with reserves estimated at 500,000 tons, making it one of the largest lithium deposits in Europe. Lithium is essential for producing electronics, military equipment, and advanced weaponry, including drones, fighter jets, and missile systems.
With both Russia and the West eyeing Ukraine’s vast mineral reserves, the outcome of Trump’s proposed deal could have far-reaching consequences—not just for Ukraine, but for global technology, defense, and energy markets.
