President Donald Trump has announced his intention to negotiate agreement with Ukraine and provided continuous military assistance in the war with Russia in exchange for access to the elements of the country. This proposal means a strategic change in US foreign policy, and concludes support to specific economic interests.
suggestion
Trump explained that he would talk to reporters from an elliptical office on Monday,
We say to Ukraine -they have very valuable rare earth. We want what we did in the warranty aspect. A warranty is required. We give them money on their fists. We are giving them a device … We want to sign a contract with Ukraine. They intend to secure what they are giving to them with their rare soil and others.
It was unspecified, but the mention of playing cards to “other things” may imply rare minerals such as lithium and titanium. These are used in the industry, from defense, aerospace to energy storage, and high -tech manufacturing.
Trump said, “Yes. I want a rare earth security.”
Ukraine has a remarkable sediment of a specific rare earth element (REE), including berrillium and nioobium. According to Green European Journal, deposits can “make Ukraine a superpower in energy transition.”
Ukrainian mineral wealth
Ukraine is one of the most important players in the global supply of important raw materials. One of the global players who understand this possibility is the World Economic Forum (WEF). In June, the group emphasized the importance of Ukrainian mineral reserves in global supply chains and its importance in promoting carbonization.
Ukraine has about 20,000 mineral sediments that extend 116 kinds of minerals. Ukraine supplies 22 out of 50 strategic minerals that have been identified as important for economic and national security by the United States.
The most valuable resources include titanium, lithium, beryrillium, manganese, gallium, uranium, zirconium, graphitite, apatite, and nickel. In particular, Ukraine has the largest titanium reserved in Europe and accounts for 7 % of the world's reserves. It also holds about 500,000 tons of lithium. This is an indispensable strategic resource to satisfy the growing global demand for battery production.
The estimated value of ukraine mineral wealth differs between the source. According to the Washington Post's 2022 report, Ukraine titanium, iron ore, lithium, and other minerals are worth a collective value of $ trillions. Similarly, the Middle East Research Institute's 2022 article quotes an estimation of $ 11.5 trillion to $ 3 trillion of Ukraine's rare earth metals and lithium reserves.
Gold mine under the tile RUB
Ukraine's REE and the enormous amount of minerals have become a very popular resource hub for western countries. Due to the global demand for these minerals in energy, defense, and high -tech industries, the United States and the EU do not seem to consider Ukraine as “democracy fortress” and do not seem to be a treasure trove of raw materials.
One of the loud voices advocating Western support to Ukraine is Rinshi Graham (RS.C.), a new conservative Senator. During “defending democracy”, he seems to be fascinated by the wealth of minerals in the country. In an interview with CBS, he said financially, frankly, and said, “(Ukrainian) is sitting on a gold mine.”
Graham emphasized further:
This is a big deal, the end of Ukraine. Let's help them win a war that we can't afford to lose … Providing an important mineral of $ 10 or $ 12 trillion to Putin is ridiculous to share with China.
Regarding all the geological richness of Ukraine, this country has no technical infrastructure, expertise, and financial abilities to mining and sophisticated these resources. Even before the war began, Ukraine used only 15 % of its deposits. The war has inconvenienced the ability to further use these assets. At the same time, many major sediments are located in an area close to the Russian occupied territory or an active dispute zone. As a result, Ukraine realizes that not only for military assistance, but also for mining investment, advanced processing, security protection, but also completely dependent on Western “allies”. Perhaps the western enthusiasm for Ukraine's sovereignty is not “protecting democracy” rather than securing strategic minerals.
Ukraine's “victory” plan
Ukraine's President Voldimil Zelensky has already opened a door to the rich mineral prize west of Ukraine.
In the “victory plan” posted last October, ZELENSKY developed a “special contract” with a strategic partner, acknowledged “joint protection, investment, and use” for national natural resources and rare minerals. Although it was face value as a matter of security and mutual profit, this proposal does not unnecessarily link the shared exploitation of Ukrainian minerals.
As Zelensky said, “Ukraine's important resources deposits are one of the important looting purposes of the Russian Federation in this war, and this is our growth.”
Interestingly, this plan also includes a classified attached book that can only access the specified partner.
EU
Trump's proposal to secure access to Ukrainian resources can conflict with the EU, which has already been agreed with Ukraine's rare earth. The agreement signed in 2021 aims to develop, extracted, and process important minerals and important minerals. We also aim to reduce the dependence on the EU in China and Russia. Both Washington and Brussels are paying attention to the same prize, so Trump's movements are at risk of impairing European profits, and may be more tension than who gives priority in the postwar resource economy in Ukraine.
Russian response
Cremlin quickly accused Trump's proposal and branded it as a “purchase of support”, rather than providing support on strategic or humanitarian evidence.
Kremlin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the reporters on Tuesday. Basics. “”
Peskov added, “Of course, it would be better not to provide any support to contribute to the end of the dispute,” Pescov.
Beyond diplomatic rhetoric, Russia has vested interests in Ukraine mineral wealth. Some of the most valuable deposits in Ukraine are in the territory of Russian occupied territory, such as Donetsk and Lehansk. If Kiev attacks resource transactions with Washington, it may strengthen Ukraine's economic future and further reduce Russian leverage.
Constitution vs. REALPOLITIK
In the trajectory of the campaign, Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine “within 24 hours”, and the deadline was extended to 100 days. But continuing to support the United States in exchange for his latest proposal -Ukrainian minerals, suggests that he will not see the conflict immediately concluded. More important is that, despite the clear lack of constitutional evidence of such support, the United States remains financially and substantially intertwined in the Foreign War.
The current problem is whether US resources justify the continuous flow of conflict by securing important minerals. Is Ukraine's access to rare soil worth the constitutional restrictions aside, or is RealPolitik's logic completely overtaking the principle of American governance?
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