Ukraine offers rare earth metals for U.S. security aid deal
Ukraine is ready to offer the U.S. rare earth metals and underground storage for LNG in exchange for security guarantees, according to Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview with Reuters. The President of Ukraine emphasized that this proposal represents a mutually beneficial partnership.
"The Americans helped the most, and therefore the Americans should earn the most," said the President of Ukraine, as quoted by Reuters.
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that Ukraine should secure access to these metals as a condition for further military aid. "We're looking to do a deal with Ukraine where they're going to secure what we're giving them with their rare earths and other things," Trump stated.
As Reuters notes, Zelensky had previously discussed, in the fall of 2024, providing Ukrainian rare earth metal deposits, which are crucial in the production of high-efficiency magnets, electric motors, and consumer electronics, in exchange for security guarantees.
Zelensky reminded that Ukraine has the largest reserves of titanium and uranium in Europe. Titanium is vital for the aerospace and space industries, while uranium is essential for nuclear energy. Some deposits are located in areas occupied by Russia.
Cooperation on LNG
"Many of the titanium deposits were marked in northwestern Ukraine, far from the fighting," Reuters noted. According to the Ukrainian leader, Russia is aware of the locations of key resources in Ukraine due to Soviet geological surveys, which were taken to Moscow after Kyiv declared independence in 1991. Some deposits are on Ukrainian territories currently occupied by Russian troops.
The President of Ukraine also discussed the potential of using Ukrainian storage facilities to store American LNG. "We're ready and willing to have contracts for LNG supplies to Ukraine. And of course, we will be a hub for the whole of Europe," Zelensky said.
Zelensky emphasized the importance of meeting with the U.S. President before Trump's discussions with Vladimir Putin. "Otherwise, it will look like a dialogue about Ukraine without Ukraine," he commented. Trump announced that a meeting with Zelensky could take place next week in Washington, D.C.
