President Trump said on Monday that he wanted to conclude a deal with Ukraine, where Kiev will provide Kiev in the United States with rare ground minerals in exchange for American aid, as it has so far made a sign of his approaches to transactions to support the war -torn nation.
“We are looking to make a deal with Ukraine, where they will secure what we offer them with their rare land and other things,” Mr. Trump He said from the oval officeWhere he signed executive orders. “We want a guarantee.”
Ukraine is rich in rare ground minerals such as lithium, uranium and titanium, which is decisive to manufacture a wide range of modern products including electric car engines and wind turbines.
Mr. Trump’s offer comes at a time when his new government has stopped helping foreign development around the world, Forcing many humanitarian organizations in Ukraine to suspend operations Leaving the Ukrainian government stood to secure alternative financing for critical programs, including supporting the destroyed energy network and old warriors in the war.
President Voludmir Zelinski said that the US military assistance provided by the Biden administration was not affected by the recent freezing of foreign aid. But Mr. Trump has long expressed his frequency of continuing to send billions of dollars from weapons and other equipment to the besieged nation, on the pretext that it costs the United States too much.
In many ways, Mr. Trump’s offer to commercial assistance to rare ground minerals is compatible with the foreign policy strategy of the transactions he has followed since her return to office. He has benefited from the US economic power to pressure allies, including Colombia and Mexico, to agree to its demands, or at least negotiate it.
By expressing his interest in rare ground minerals in Ukraine, Mr. Trump also picks up an offer that originally came from Mr. Zellinski himself. In recent months, since the Ukrainian president is looking for ways to attract the Trump administration received, he stressed that helping to defend Ukraine is in America’s economic interest because his country Rich in critical minerals that can enhance American industries.
In response to the statement of Mr. Trump, a senior Ukrainian official said Monday night that Ukraine is ready to work with the United States on rare metal dealings, provided that the United States provides sufficient security guarantees to prevent these resources from falling into the hands of Russian. He spoke on the condition that his identity is not disclosed to discuss a sensitive issue.
The Ukrainian authorities say that the country carries deposits for more than 20 critical minerals from the land, with some consulting and stock companies Their evaluation in several trillion dollars. But experts warn that the real value is difficult to estimate because many reserves are not accessible, and this is partly due to the Russian occupation of parts of Ukraine.
Ukraine planned to sign an agreement with the Biden administration late last year to cooperate in mineral extraction and processing. But the Ukrainian authorities postponed the signing of such a deal, in what Officials from both sides He said it was a sign that Kiev was waiting for Mr. Trump to take office to connect an agreement with him.
In December, a Ukrainian government delegation met with American businessmen in Washington, where it provided possible commercial deals that included obtaining production licenses for critical metals, either direct .
But the extent and effectiveness of Ukraine, which can end these deals, is still unconfirmed. in conference In Kiev last week, Ukrainian business leaders and legislators confirmed that many exploration still should be done to assess the true value of critical minerals in the country. Administrative and legislative obstacles still hinder foreign investment in this sector.
Moreover, Russia in the battlefield allowed Moscow forces to seize large reserves of rare ground minerals in Ukraine, and they quickly approach other reserves. The Russian forces are currently less than seven miles from the major Li -Betium Reserve in the Donetsk region in southeast Ukraine.
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