Trump says he wants Ukraine鈥檚 rare earth elements as a condition of further support

A convoy of Ukraine-bound Bradley Fighting Vehicles from the US load onto the carrier ARC Integrity at the Transportation Core Dock in North Charleston, South Carolina,on January 25, 2023. (Handout via REUTERS)
Short Url
  • He said he wants 鈥渆qualization鈥� from Ukraine for Washington鈥檚 鈥渃lose to $300 billion鈥� in support
  • German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Trump鈥檚 latest demand from Ukraine "would be very selfish, very self-centered鈥�

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Monday he wants Ukraine to supply the United States with rare earth minerals as a form of payment for financially supporting the country鈥檚 war efforts against Russia.
Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House, said Ukraine was willing, adding that he wants 鈥渆qualization鈥� from Ukraine for Washington鈥檚 鈥渃lose to $300 billion鈥� in support.
鈥淲e鈥檙e telling Ukraine they have very valuable rare earths,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking to do a deal with Ukraine where they鈥檙e going to secure what we鈥檙e giving them with their rare earths and other things.鈥�

鈥淲e鈥檙e putting in hundreds of billions of dollars. They have great rare earth. And I want security of the rare earth, and they鈥檙e willing to do it,鈥� he said.

The US has only one operating rare earths mine and very little processing capacity, although several companies are working to develop projects in the country. China is the world鈥檚 largest producer of rare earths and many other critical minerals.

It was not immediately clear if Trump was using the term 鈥渞are earths鈥� to refer to all types of critical minerals or just to rare earths.
Rare earths are a group of 17 metals used to make magnets that turn power into motion for electric vehicles, cellphones and other electronics. There are no known substitutes.
The US Geological Survey considers 50 minerals to be critical for the country鈥檚 economy and national defense, including several types of rare earths, nickel and lithium.
Ukraine contains large deposits of uranium, lithium and titanium, although none are considered to be among the world鈥檚 five biggest by volume and the US has its own untapped reserves of those and other critical minerals.
The US has only one operating rare earths mine and very little processing capacity, although several companies are working to develop projects in the country. China is the world鈥檚 largest producer of rare earths and many other critical minerals.

Trump, who had previously said he鈥檇 bring about a rapid end to the war, said talks are ongoing to bring the conflict to a close. But he complained that the US had sent more in military and economic assistance to Ukraine than its European partners.

鈥淲e made a lot of progress on Russia, Ukraine,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l see what happens. We鈥檙e going to stop that ridiculous war.鈥�
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Associated Press on Saturday that any negotiations between the US and Russia but without his country were unacceptable.
鈥淭hey may have their own relations, but talking about Ukraine without us 鈥� it is dangerous for everyone,鈥� Zelensky said.
He said his team has been in contact with the Trump administration, but those discussions are at a 鈥済eneral level,鈥� and he believes in-person meetings will take place soon to develop more detailed agreements.
鈥淲e need to work more on this,鈥� Zelensky said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Trump鈥檚 latest demand from Ukraine "would be very selfish, very self-centered.鈥�

Such resources would be better used for the country鈥檚 reconstruction after the war, Scholz added.