Russia has some of the most resource -rich Ukrainian regions amid land exchange talks

president Donald Trump Renewed calls for the exchange of territorial territory between Russia and Ukraine-which is a political geopolitical maneuver, if followed, Moscow can give control of some of the most strategic and resource-rich areas in Ukraine.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy It firmly refused any proposal that would allow Russia to control its occupied territory in the war wearing war.

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Russia Nearly five Ukraine lands are currently occupied in the eastern and southeastern regions, including large areas of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporesvia and Khairson.

These areas were under partial or full Russian control at different points over the Kremlin war, which lasted three and a half years.

Russia also carries the Crimea, Ukraine The southern peninsula, which was included in 2014. The Crimea was seized into a wave of international sanctions and led to Russia’s expulsion from a group of eight.

“The land currently occupied by Russia in southern and eastern Ukraine is rich in various natural resources,” said David Salvo, the coalition’s administrative director to secure democracy in the German Marshall Fund.

“If Russia maintains that land, they will steal huge amounts of critical minerals and other major economic assets. This includes important goods in the global market, such as lithium, coal and gas.”

This strategic importance is emphasized through a warning from the Institute of War Study, which is a non -profit research organization based in Washington, DC, which warns of this Russia It can take advantage of rare metal deposits in occupied Ukraine and sell them to China.

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The War Study Institute wrote in a statement of Fox News Digital, adding that Russia has worked with China to extract these goods around the world since at least 2005: “Russia’s access to minerals in occupied Ukraine is likely to increase from the ability of the People’s Republic of China to reach China with China to extract these goods around the world since at least 2005,” wrote the war study in a statement.

“The American metal deal and the United States, which was signed in April 2025, will not be effective unless American and Ukrainian companies are able to reach these resources,” a statement from the Institute of War Study continued, noting that Russian forces are currently carrying lands containing important deposits.

Salvo said that Russia The occupation of Ukrainian lands along the Black Sea not only restricts the exports of Ukraine on the sea, but also gives Moscow control over gas reserves abroad.

Salvo also can UkraineHistorically known as the name Europe Bredbasket, will lose billions of dollars in the value of export of pills.

“The economy of Ukraine will remain alive, but it will undoubtedly lose hundreds of billions,” Salvo said.

before Russia The invasion was widely, and agriculture was the third largest economic sector in Ukraine, contributing about 11 % of GDP and employing about 2.5 million people, according to the 2024 European Parliament report.

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According to the latest review from the KYIV College of Economics, the Ukrainian agriculture industry has achieved about $ 80 billion of damage and losses.

The group also manages the country’s economy by 45 %, while the exports of grain that have been disrupted and continuous destruction of its agricultural sector threaten millions around the world with hunger.