Rare Ukrainian minerals may be needed by the U.S. in its confrontation with China, which is why Trump advocates for Kyiv to maintain control over them.
According to The Telegraph, Ukraine possesses unique natural resources, particularly rare earth elements such as cerium and lanthanum, which are widely used in modern technologies, ranging from televisions to energy-efficient bulbs. However, these resources are not the primary target for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
As noted by energy security expert Dan Marks, the Kremlin has not had a strategic desire to seize these minerals, as Russia already has substantial reserves, and effectively utilizing them in the occupied Ukrainian territories has not yet been achieved.
The situation is entirely different in the U.S. For Donald Trump, Ukraine's resources, particularly titanium deposits and lithium, are crucial for the strategic battle against China. China controls about 90% of the world's processing of rare earth elements and leads in the processing of metals such as lithium, cobalt, and graphite. In this context, Ukrainian resources gain extraordinary value for the U.S., and Trump views them as an important factor in ensuring economic security and containing Beijing.
The situation with graphite is particularly indicative. Before the war, Ukraine was one of the leading producers of this key mineral, which was used in batteries for electric vehicles and steel production. Given Trump's plans to impose higher tariffs on graphite anodes from China, Ukraine could become an important supplier for the U.S. and Europe.
Source: telegraph.