IPSEs IN THE LAST 24H
  • Steve Witkoff
    Steve Witkoff “The meeting was positive, upbeat, constructive. Everybody was there to get to the right outcome.” 21 hours ago
  • Marco Rubio
    Marco Rubio “Ending the war in Ukraine could unlock the door for incredible opportunities that exist to partner with the Russians geopolitically on issues of common interest and, frankly, economically on issues that hopefully will be good for the world and also improve our relations in the long term.” 21 hours ago
  • Sergey Lavrov
    Sergey Lavrov “We explained today that the deployment of any troops, any armed forces from NATO countries but under other flags, either the European Union or national flags, changes nothing in this context. For us, of course, this is unacceptable.” 21 hours ago
  • Marco Rubio
    Marco Rubio “Russia and the United States have agreed to restore their embassies in Moscow and Washington to previous staffing levels to facilitate continued diplomatic engagement. We will need active work of diplomatic missions capable of functioning normally to be able to continue these contacts.” 21 hours ago
  • Jana Puglierin
    Jana Puglierin “February 2022 destroyed our faith in a collective security order with Russia and showed us the dark side of our fundamental dependence on Russia and China in critical areas. February 2025 shows us that the Americans no longer feel responsible for European security - and that their interests are fundamentally different from ours.” 21 hours ago
  • Volodymyr Zelenskiy
    Volodymyr Zelenskiy “Ukraine, Europe in a broad sense - and this includes the European Union, Turkiye, and the UK - should be involved in conversations and the development of the necessary security guarantees with America regarding the fate of our part of the world.” 21 hours ago
  • Mariia Mezentseva
    Mariia Mezentseva “It's not yet very clear how this negotiating table will look. But defence and justice must be at the forefront of any solution to end the war, and the US, Europe and Ukraine must be on board. It's not Russia who can dictate the rules because they are the invaders. It has to be absolutely [reversed].” 21 hours ago
View All IPSEs inserted in the Last 24h
NEW CONTEXTS IN THE LAST 24H
  • No New Contexts inserted in the last 24 hours
View All New Contexts inserted in the last 24h
   

04 Feb 2025

“We are open to the fact [Donald Trump wanting more access to the Ukraine's valuable rare earth minerals], that all of this can be developed together, along with our partners who can help us protect our lands. This is absolutely fair. I talked about this in September when we met with President Trump.”

author
President of Ukraine
author
Contexts (to suggest a new Context click here)
Background

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that future American aid to Ukraine could be contingent on securing greater access to the Ukraine’s valuable rare earth minerals. These minerals, essential for producing batteries, electronics, and military technology, have become increasingly sought after as global demand for high-tech and defense-related materials grows.

Speaking to reporters on February 3, Trump emphasized the need for a deal that would ensure U.S. security over Ukraine’s rare earth resources. He highlighted their strategic importance, particularly as the United States has invested hundreds of billions of dollars in Ukraine’s defense. Rare earths, a group of 17 critical minerals, play a crucial role in industries ranging from renewable energy to advanced weaponry, making access to them a key geopolitical priority.

Extracting these minerals, however, presents significant challenges. They exist in trace amounts, requiring extensive mining and complex refining processes before they can be used in advanced technology. Despite these hurdles, Ukraine’s deposits could prove valuable in reducing reliance on other suppliers, including China, which dominates the global rare earth market.

As Ukraine remains heavily dependent on U.S. military assistance to counter the Russian invasion, Trump's potential conditions for future aid add another layer to ongoing negotiations. His administration has signaled that leveraging economic and security incentives could be central to efforts to bring Kyiv and Moscow to the negotiating table. With Congress having allocated over $174 billion for Ukraine-related support, Trump's approach suggests a shift toward ensuring that American strategic interests—particularly in critical minerals—are part of any future aid agreements.

This development underscores the broader geopolitical and economic stakes tied to Ukraine’s natural resources, as well as the evolving dynamics of U.S. foreign policy toward the war-torn nation.

Read More

 Rare earth elements facts - Government of Canada

Date and Location
  • 04 February 2025
  • 04 February 2025
  • Not Specified
arrow