By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Pew PatriotsPew PatriotsPew Patriots
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Reading: Ukraine’s rare earth elements could help keep US military aid flowing
Share
Font ResizerAa
Pew PatriotsPew Patriots
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Search
  • Home
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
Ukraine’s rare earth elements could help keep US military aid flowing
Tactical

Ukraine’s rare earth elements could help keep US military aid flowing

Jimmie Dempsey
Last updated: February 11, 2025 6:35 pm
Jimmie Dempsey Published February 11, 2025
Share
SHARE

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine has offered to strike a deal with U.S. President Donald Trump for continued American military aid in exchange for developing Ukraine’s mineral industry, which could provide a valuable source of the rare earth elements that are essential for many kinds of technology.

Trump said that he wanted such a deal earlier this month, and it was initially proposed last fall by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as part of his plan to strengthen Kyiv’s hand in future negotiations with Moscow.

RELATED

“We really have this big potential in the territory which we control,” Andrii Yermak, chief of staff to the Ukrainian president, said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press. “We are interested to work, to develop, with our partners, first of all, with the United States.”

Here is a look at Ukraine’s rare earth industry and how a deal might come together:

What are rare earth elements?

Rare earth elements are a set of 17 elements that are essential to many kinds of consumer technology, including cellphones, hard drives and electric and hybrid vehicles.

It’s unclear if Trump is seeking specific elements in Ukraine, which also has other minerals to offer.

“It can be lithium. It can be titanium, uranium, many others,” Yermak said. “It’s a lot.”

China, Trump’s chief geopolitical adversary, is the world’s largest producer of rare earth elements. Both the U.S and Europe have sought to reduce their dependence on Beijing.

For Ukraine, such a deal would ensure that its biggest and most consequential ally doesn’t freeze military support. That would be devastating for the country, which has been at war for nearly three years after Russia’s full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022.

The idea also comes at a time when reliable and uninterrupted access to critical minerals is increasingly hard to come by globally.

What is the state of the Ukrainian minerals industry?

Ukraine’s rare earth elements are largely untapped because of the war and because of state policies regulating the mineral industry. The country also lacks good information to guide the development of rare earth mining.

Geological data is thin because mineral reserves are scattered across Ukraine, and existing studies are considered largely inadequate. The industry’s true potential is clouded by insufficient research, according to businessmen and analysts.

In general, the outlook for Ukrainian natural resources is promising. The country’s reserves of titanium, a key component for the aerospace, medical and automotive industries, are believed to be among Europe’s largest. Ukraine also holds some of Europe’s largest known reserves of lithium, which is required to produce batteries, ceramics and glass.

In 2021, the Ukrainian mineral industry accounted for 6.1% of the country’s gross domestic product and 30% of exports.

An estimated 40% of Ukraine’s metallic mineral resources are inaccessible because of Russian occupation, according to data from We Build Ukraine, a Kyiv-based think tank. Ukraine has argued that it’s in Trump’s interest to develop the remainder before Russian advances capture more.

The European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union, identified Ukraine as a potential supplier for more than 20 critical raw materials and concluded that if the country joins the 27-nation EU, it could strengthen the European economy.

What happens next?

Details of any deal will likely develop in meetings between U.S. and Ukrainian officials. Zelenskyy and Trump will probably discuss the subject when they meet.

U.S. companies have expressed interest, according to Ukrainian business officials. But striking a formal deal would likely require legislation, geological surveys and negotiation of specific terms.

It’s unclear what kind of security guarantees companies would require to risk working in Ukraine, even in the event of a ceasefire. And no one knows for sure what kind of financing agreements would underpin contracts between Ukraine and U.S companies.

Susie Blann contributed to this report.

Read the full article here

You Might Also Like

Top 5 New Pocket Guns That Will Be the Best CCW in 2025!

First Look: New Revolver Sights From XS Sights

US Navy unveils newest Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS Iowa

What troops need to know about life insurance in 2025

In a service first, Navy taps Black civil engineer for admiral

Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

We Recommend
Tensions rise as Israel strongly denies firing on Palestinians at Gaza humanitarian site
News

Tensions rise as Israel strongly denies firing on Palestinians at Gaza humanitarian site

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey June 2, 2025
Massachusetts Governor demands answers after ICE arrests Milford High School student
US politicians, Jewish groups condemn ‘horrifying’ Boulder terror attack: ‘Vile, antisemitic act of terror’
Chase Chrisley celebrates Julie and Todd Chrisley’s prison release as his ‘best’ birthday gift
Mohamed Sabry Soliman: What we know about illegal immigrant accused in Colorado terror attack
Ukraine’s ‘Spider’s Web’ drone strike burns over 40 Russian warplanes, Moscow calls it ‘terrorist attack’
NY Times columnist compares Elon Musk to history’s worst murderers over USAID cuts
News

NY Times columnist compares Elon Musk to history’s worst murderers over USAID cuts

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey June 2, 2025
Diddy accuser sues Harvey Weinstein for sexual assault
News

Diddy accuser sues Harvey Weinstein for sexual assault

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey June 2, 2025
House lawmakers to unveil draft budget for vets programs this week
Tactical

House lawmakers to unveil draft budget for vets programs this week

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey June 2, 2025
Pew Patriots
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
  • Guns and Gear
2024 © Pew Patriots. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?