By Samya Kullab, Associated Press
Kyiv, Ukraine (AP) – Ukraine has proposed to conclude an agreement with American president Donald Trump for continuous American military aid in exchange for the development of the mineral industry of Ukraine, which could provide a precious source of rare earth elements which are essential for many types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types Types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of types of type technology.
Trump said he wanted such an agreement earlier this month, and that he was initially offered last fall by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as part of his Kiev hand strengthening plan in the Future negotiations with Moscow.
“We really have this great potential in the territory we control,” said Andrii Yermak, chief of staff to the Ukrainian president, in an exclusive interview with the Associated Press. “We are interested in working, developing, with our partners, first of all, with the United States.”
Here is an overview of the rare land industry of Ukraine and how an agreement could meet:
What are the elements of the rare earths?
Rare land elements are a set of 17 elements that are essential for many types of consumption technologies, including mobile phones, hard drives and electric and hybrid vehicles.
We do not know if Trump is looking for specific elements in Ukraine, which also has other minerals to offer.
“It can be lithium. It can be titanium, uranium, many others, ”said Yermak. “It’s a lot.”
China, Trump’s main geopolitical opponent, is the world’s largest producer of rare earth elements. The United States and Europe both sought to reduce its dependence in Beijing.
For Ukraine, such an agreement would guarantee that its largest and most consecutive ally does not freeze military support. It would be devastating for the country, which has been at war for almost three years after Russia’s large -scale invasion on February 24, 2022.
The idea also comes at a time when reliable and uninterrupted access to critical minerals is increasingly difficult to find in the world.
What is the state of the Ukrainian mineral industry?
The rare elements of Ukraine are largely unexploited due to the war and because of the policies of the State regulating the mineral industry. The country also lacks good information to guide the development of the exploitation of rare earths.
Geological data is thin because mineral reserves are dispersed across Ukraine, and existing studies are considered to be largely inadequate. The true potential of the industry is darkened by insufficient research, according to businessmen and analysts.
In general, the prospects of Ukrainian natural resources are promising. The country’s titanium reserves, a key element for aerospace, medical and cars are among the largest in Europe. Ukraine also holds some of the largest known reserves in Europe in lithium, which is necessary to produce batteries, ceramics and glass.
In 2021, the Ukrainian mineral industry represented 6.1% of the country’s gross domestic product and 30% of exports.
It is estimated that 40% of Ukraine’s metal mineral resources are inaccessible due to the Russian occupation, according to data from We Build Ukraine, a kyiv -based reflection group. Ukraine argued that it is in the interest of Trump to develop the rest 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 EU at 27 nations, it could strengthen the economy European.
What happens next?
Details of any agreement will probably develop during meetings between American and Ukrainian officials. Zelenskyy and Trump will probably discuss the subject when they meet.
American companies have expressed their interest, according to managers of Ukrainian companies. But concluding an official agreement would probably require legislation, geological surveys and a negotiation of specific terms.
We do not know what type of security guarantees that companies would need to risk working in Ukraine, even in the event of a ceasefire. And no one knows with certainty what type of financing agreements underlies contracts between Ukrainian and American companies.
Susie Blann contributed to this report.
Originally published:
California Daily Newspapers
