U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed that Ukraine provide the United States with access to its rare earth minerals in exchange for military assistance in its ongoing conflict with Russia. This suggestion has drawn sharp criticism from Moscow.
“If we call things as they are, this is a proposal to buy help — in other words, not to give it unconditionally, or for some other reasons, but specifically to provide it on a commercial basis,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tuesday. “It would be better of course for the assistance to not be provided at all, as that would contribute to the end of this conflict,” he added.
On Monday, Trump stated he was “looking to do a deal with Ukraine” wherein the U.S. would offer military aid in return for Ukraine’s “rare earths.” He emphasized the substantial U.S. investment, noting, “We’re investing hundreds of billions of dollars. They have great rare earths, and I want security of the rare earths.” He also mentioned that Ukraine is “willing to do it.”
Ukraine possesses significant reserves of critical minerals such as titanium, lithium, graphite, and uranium, which are vital for various high-tech applications. Some of these resources are located in regions currently occupied by Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed openness to such arrangements, stating that partnering with allies who support Ukraine’s defense is fair.
However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized Trump’s proposal, labeling it “very egotistic, very self-centered,” and suggesting that Ukraine would need its natural resources to finance postwar rebuilding.
The U.S. aims to reduce its reliance on China’s dominant production of rare earth elements, which are essential for various high-tech applications.
As the conflict continues, discussions about leveraging Ukraine’s mineral wealth in exchange for military support remain a contentious issue among international stakeholders.