Rare earth metals in exchange for US aid: the reaction of the Office of the President and Scholz to Trump’s statement
World and Ukrainian media exploded with discussions after Donald Trump’s resounding statement. The US president said he wants to conclude an agreement with Ukraine on the supply of rare earth minerals – a strategically important raw material for the electronics and defense industry. In exchange for this, Washington is allegedly ready to expand aid to Kyiv and provide guarantees.
The statement caused an ambiguous reaction both in Ukraine and in Europe. The Office of the President is still weighing the official position, and European leaders, in particular Olaf Scholz, have already reacted to Trump’s initiative, which can significantly change the balance of power in the international economy and geopolitics.
Trump’s statement
US President Donald Trump has announced his intention to conclude an agreement with Ukraine under which Kyiv will supply rare earth minerals needed by the US electronics and defense industries in exchange for support from the US. About this informs Reuters and AP.
During a meeting with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said:
“We tell Ukraine that they have very valuable rare earth metals… We want guarantees. We transfer money to them on a huge scale, we transfer weapons, the Europeans are not keeping up with us… For them (Europeans) it is more important than for us, but they are far behind us.
We seek to conclude an agreement with Ukraine, according to which they will provide what we give them with their rare earth elements and other things.”
Reaction of the Office of the President
As informs RBC-Ukraine with reference to a source in the Office of the President, this item was an important part of Kyiv’s initiative.
“We have strategic resources, including rare earth metals, uranium, lithium, titanium. It is important that they do not get to Russia. That is why President Volodymyr Zelenskyi proposed special protection of these resources and their use together with key partners.”, – said the interlocutor.
He emphasized that the primary task is security guarantees to ensure the protection of critical resources from threats from the Russian Federation. Zelenskyi discussed this very issue with Donald Trump during a personal meeting back in the fall.
This statement is related to the initiative of Volodymyr Zelenskyi, who, presenting the victory plan in the Verkhovna Rada, emphasized Ukraine’s readiness to offer strategic partners a special agreement on the protection of critical resources, joint investment and development of economic potential.
Zelensky emphasized that we are talking about natural resources and strategically important metals, the value of which is estimated at trillions of dollars on the global market. Among them are uranium, titanium, lithium, graphite and other rare earth elements that can provide Ukraine with a significant competitive advantage.
Olaf Scholz’s reaction
US President Donald Trump’s proposal to link further military aid to Ukraine with access to its valuable resources does not meet Kyiv’s interests. This was stated by Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, reports N-TV.
After an informal meeting of European leaders in Brussels, Olaf Scholz criticized Donald Trump for his intention to negotiate a “deal” with Ukraine, which involves the transfer of rare earth metals and other resources in exchange for the supply of weapons.
“It would be extremely selfish and self-centered to use the country’s resources to finance defense support”, – noted Scholz after the informal EU summit in Brussels.
He emphasized that Ukrainian resources should be directed to financing the country’s needs after the end of the war, and not become part of such agreements.
According to the chancellor, the scale of the destruction is huge, so Ukraine’s resources should be directed to reconstruction, and not become the subject of agreements.
