The United States has secured rights to extract key minerals in Ukraine, further straining diplomatic relations between the two countries. However, the value of this deal in the global battle for metals is uncertain due to several factors.
Ukraine’s mineral resources are hindered by outdated Soviet-era maps and high risks associated with mining. The development of mines and processing plants for essential metals required for U.S. competition with China is also heavily restricted.
This move may benefit the United States in its quest for vital metals needed to construct weapons, electronics, and batteries. Nevertheless, the complexities involved in extracting these resources make it difficult to predict the deal’s true impact on the global metal market.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/05/03/ukraine-minerals-metals-rare-earths