He Last February 24, 3 years were completed since the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine was unleashed. Amid the peace negotiations between the two states, the president of the United States, Donald Trumpseeks to achieve an agreement with his Ukrainian pair, Volodimir Zelenski For him access to minerals and rare earths of the European countrymeasure that considers the armed conflict.
This condition would have been imposed by Trump, who expects Ukraine to pay what owes to the United States, Who has been sending financial aid since the war broke out in 2022. In this way, Ukrainian natural resources arise as a option to pay the US $ 500,000 million in which Washington encrypted your help.
From the kyiv they assure that the war cost them “U $ 320,000 millions; US $120,000 million covered by Ukrainian taxpayers and U $ 200,000 million Supplied by the United States and the European Union, especially in military aid. “In detail, according to Zelenski, the contribution of the country led by Trump was from”US $ 67 billion dollars In military assistance and U $ S31,500 in direct help to the Ukrainian budget. “
Beyond the discrepancy in the figures, the condition of Trump’s management remains firm with the passing of the days. Last Monday, the American president explained: “Everyone expressed their desire that the war ends. And I emphasized the importance of the vital ‘Agreement on critical minerals and rare earths’ between the United States and Ukrainethat we hope is firm very soon. “
“This agreement, which is an ‘economic association’, will guarantee that the American people recover the tens of billions of dollars and the military team sent to Ukraine, While helping the Ukrainian economy to grow while this brutal and wild war comes to an end, “Trump said through his account in the social truth network.
What are rare minerals?
“Rare earths” is a Collective term for 17 chemically similar elements that are used a lot in modern technology and industry. For example, these elements are used in the manufacture of smartphones, computers and medical equipment, among others.
In detail, the list covers; Scandio (SC); the ititrium (y); the Lantano (La); the hill (CE); The Paseodymium (PR): the neodymium (ND); The Prometio (PM); the samario (SM); the Europio (EU); the gadolinio (GD); The Terbio (TB); The Disposio (Dy); The Holmio (Ho): The Erbio (ER); El Tulio (TM); the iterbio (yb) and the luthecio (Lu).
These natural resources are called “Rare“Because it is very unusual to find them in Pure state. However, some of them are presented in deposits throughout the planet.
Trump put his eye on the Ukrainian territory since he It has 21 of the 30 substances that the European Union (EU) defines as “critical raw materials”, which represents around the 5% of world reserves.
Many of the areas that contain these elements are south of what is known as Ukrainian crystalline shieldmainly under the Azov Sea. Most of these territories They are currently occupied by Russia.
As for other important Ukrainian mineral resources, about 70% of them areaccording to Forbes Ukraine, in the regions of Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk and Luhansk. That is, many are within territories that were invaded and occupied by Russia.
In addition to rare earth minerals, Ukraine also has what is known as essential minerals, such as lithium. As detailed by the Ukrainian government itself, the Country has about 450,000 tons of lithium reserves.
Donald Trump’s interest in Ukrainian natural resources
The United States’s interest in controlling rare earth production – and with it the production of essential minerals for technological development – the current competition it has with China is largely due, which currently dominates the world offer, exemplified in its Combat for mastery of microchips production.
It should be noted that, in recent decades, China became a leader both in extraction and rare land minerals. Currently, the Asian country is responsible for 60 to 70 % of world production and almost 90 % of the processing capacity.
Since his arrival at the White House, the Trump administration expressed concern about the current agency that the North American country with China has, both in terms of national security and economics. These materials are key in the production of new technologies – from electric cars to military equipment – market in which the United States seeks to recover its hegemony.
Source: Ambito
