Decoding Ukraine’s strategic mines; What exactly what Trump is looking for?
Following the refusal of Ukrainian President Walodimir Zelnski earlier this month, the action was dissatisfied with the white palace.
US President Donald Trump, who is blamed Zelnski in the most severe way these days, has said Ukraine should give the United States $ 5 billion as a repayment of Kiev’s aid earlier from Joe Biden’s government.
, however, Zelanski announced that Washington has given only $ 5 billion of weapons and $ 1.5 billion in direct budget support, and he does not consider Biden’s assistance as a loan.
Pressure tactics
US $ 2 billion in rare Ukrainian mines, of course, without leverage. Some sources have told Reuters that US negotiators have told Ukraine that if the mineral agreement is not signed, the United States may cut access to Starlink’s Internet. This satellite internet service belongs to SpaceX for Ukraine.
Melinda Herring, a senior member of the Atlantic Council, believes that the Internet is essential for Ukrainian UAV operations, which is the basis of its military strategy, and the loss of Starlink will change the game. Ukraine has a wide range of different drones from sea drones and surveillance drones to long -range drones.
These pressures eventually concluded as if the Ukrainian and US agreement is being finalized. Ukrainian Vice President Stefanishina recently announced that Ukraine and the United States are in the “final stages” negotiations on minerals that play a key role in ending the war in the country.
Ukrainian and US teams are in the final stages of negotiations on minerals agreeing on minerals agreement. These negotiations are very constructive and almost all important details have been finalized.
“We hope that US and Ukrainian leaders will be able to sign and endorse this agreement in Washington as soon as possible to showcase our commitment to the coming decades,” said the Ukrainian senior official.
Zelansky seeks to obtain specific security guarantees from the granting of this privilege and an agreement with Trump. The International and Strategic Studies Center (CSIS) wrote that Ukraine provides its strategic resources in exchange for US security and security guarantees.
US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz called the joint investment agreement “the best security guarantee that Ukraine can hope for. Trump has also issued an ultimatum that it may move to a peace deal with Moscow if Zelnski fails to cooperate.
What is the vital and strategic minerals?
based on an article released by Hannah Lyvytissawa, president of the Ukrainian Geological Society, it has about 5 % of the world’s mineral resources. Of course, with Russia’s about 2 % of Ukrainian territory, some of these mines are now in Moscow’s control.
minerals and rare earth elements that were estimated at more than $ 5 trillion before the war are used in various industries including mobile phones, electric cars, missile systems, electronic equipment, renewable energy, defense and health industries.
According to Ukrainian data that Reuters recently cited, the country has the reserves of 2 of the 5 minerals known by the European Union, including rare soils such as Lantanim, Naimim.
Ukraine has abundant mineral resources including rare metals, fossil energy and raw materials needed by technology, defense and energy production, which are some of the most important of these sources;
۱ titanium; Vital Element for Military and Aerospace Industries
Estimates indicate that Ukraine is the fourth largest holder of titanium reserves in the world, according to European Commission’s research in the year, supplying about 2 percent of global production. This lightweight but heat -resistant metal is used in the production of warplanes, missiles, submarines and even medical industries. The United States is heavily dependent on titanium imports, and Ukraine can be a key source to reduce this dependency.
۱ lithium; 21st Century White Gold
Lithium has become one of the most strategic raw materials as the demand for electric cars and energy storage has become one of the most strategic raw materials. The world’s five thousand tons of lithium reserves, which are key to nuclear power plants, are found in Ukraine soil, especially in the Donetsk and Zapurgia. If Trump intends to reduce US dependence on Lithium, Ukraine could be an attractive option.
۱ uranium; The key to nuclear energy independence
Ukraine has significant sources of uranium that is of great importance to nuclear industries. The United States, as one of the largest nuclear energy producers, needs sustainable uranium sources, and Ukraine reserves help reduce dependence on other countries.
۱ graphite; Essential for batteries and defense industries
Ukraine is one of the largest graphite manufacturers in the world, which is a fifth graphite manufacturer, which has a key use in nuclear power plants, is found in Ukraine. It is used to produce lithium-ion batteries, electronic equipment and military industries. With the increase in the need for graphite to produce electric cars and energy storage batteries, the US is looking to supply it from Ukraine.
۱ Coal and Natural Gas; European and American energy security
Although Ukraine has significant fossil sources, regional war and conflict have made it difficult to access these resources. Ukraine’s coal and natural gas can play a role in supplying Europe’s energy and reducing Russian influence over the global gas market; The subject that is attractive to the Trump administration.
Trump’s main purpose and barriers to Ukrainian mineral resources
According to observers, the main reason for the US president’s interest in Ukraine’s mineral resources can be summarized in a key factor “Competition with China”. This Asian superpower, as the world’s production plant, plays a key role in the supply chain of vital minerals. Wherever these materials are extracted, China still has a strategic place in processing and supplying them.
Currently, much of the world’s mineral refining capacity is available to China. According to the International Energy Agency, the country controls 2 % of nickel refinery, 2 % to 5 % of lithium and cobalt refineries, and nearly 2 % of the process of rare soil processing. China’s dominance over these elements is particularly significant. According to the US Geological Survey data, in year 2, it had about half of the global reserves of rare earth elements.
Given that Trump has intensified the trade war with Beijing by imposing heavy tariffs on Chinese goods, providing vital minerals for the United States is subject to serious challenges. Therefore, Ukraine can be a valuable alternative to Washington, in addition to meeting the needs of the US strategic industry, reducing China’s dependence on minerals.
, of course, there are obstacles in the implementation of the US agreement; Experts in the International and Strategic Studies Center (CSIS) believe about the impact of the agreement with Ukraine on US mineral security: it seems that it does not have a great impact given the short -term investment barriers. First, there are limited data on the commercial ability of rare land materials and other Ukrainian strategic materials. … Existing mapping has been carried out by the Soviet Union 2 to 5 years ago and rely on old exploration methods.
The second issue is that the war has destroyed the vital infrastructure of Ukraine. The mining industry is the most consumed energy in the world. However, Ukraine has only about one -third of its pre -war electricity capacity. In order to start exploration or mineral production, energy infrastructure must be significantly restored.
third point is that mining companies refuse to invest in Ukraine due to security risks in Ukraine, and mining is a long-term and capitalist investment, and it takes a long time to compensate for its costs.
