Ukraine’s rare earth elements could help keep US military aid flowing
By Samya Kullab, The Associated Press
Feb 11, 2025, 01:00 PM
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine has offered to strike a deal with U.S. President Donald Trump for continued American military aid in exchange for developing Ukraine’s mineral industry, which could provide a valuable source of the rare earth elements that are essential for many kinds of technology.
Trump said that he wanted such a deal earlier this month, and it was initially proposed last fall by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as part of his plan to strengthen Kyiv’s hand in future negotiations with Moscow.
“We really have this big potential in the territory which we control,” Andrii Yermak, chief of staff to the Ukrainian president, said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press. “We are interested to work, to develop, with our partners, first of all, with the United States.”
Here is a look at Ukraine’s rare earth industry and how a deal might come together:
What are rare earth elements?
https://www.defensenews.com/news/pentagon-congress/2025/02/11/ukraines-rare-earth-elements-could-help-keep-us-military-aid-flowing/
