Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected a proposal from the US to access the country’s rare earth minerals, citing concerns that it does not provide sufficient security guarantees.
The offer was made by US Vice President JD Vance during talks at the Munich Security Conference. However, the proposal focused on using Kyiv’s rare earth minerals as compensation for existing support and future aid, rather than offering concrete security guarantees.
Zelenskyy insists that any exploitation of Ukraine’s mineral resources must be tied to security guarantees that would deter Russian aggression. The Ukrainian president emphasized the need for a connection between investment and security measures.
The US proposal was met with skepticism by senior Ukrainian officials, who described it as “short-sighted” and “colonial.” They argued that the deal would not provide adequate protection for Ukraine’s mineral sites from potential Russian attacks.
Ukraine has significant reserves of critical minerals used in aerospace, defense, and nuclear industries. The country is seeking to develop its mineral industry, which could provide a valuable source of rare earth elements.
The Ukrainian government is now preparing a counter-proposal, which will be delivered to the US in the near future. Zelenskyy emphasized that any deal must be acceptable to the Ukrainian people and comply with the country’s constitution.
The proposal has sparked concerns about Ukraine’s ability to secure its mineral resources from potential Russian aggression. The issue remains a key point of contention between Ukraine, the US, and Russia in their negotiations over the future of the region.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-us-zelenskyy-agreement-trump-minerals-4d5eefcc44c9f17f330db98d81720b29