Zelenskyy Says 'Let's Do A Deal', Offering Trump Mineral Partnership, Seeking Security

"We need to stop Putin and protect what we have - a very rich Dnipro region, central Ukraine," he said.

He said Ukraine had Europe's largest reserves of 

• titanium, essential for the aviation and space industry, and 
• uranium, used for nuclear energy and weapons.
• Many of the titanium deposits were marked in northwestern Ukraine, far from the fighting.

Zelenskiyy emphasized that Kyiv was not proposing "giving away" its resources, but offering a mutually beneficial partnership to develop them jointly:

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1211529

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pored over a once-classified map of vast deposits of rare earths and other critical minerals during an interview with Reuters on Friday, part of a push to ...

• Summary

• In interview, Ukraine's Zelenskiy offers mineral partnership to US
• Zelenskiy emphasizes need for security guarantees in any deal
• Ukrainian president keen to speak to Trump before Putin does Ukraine proposes using its gas storage for U.S. LNG supplies

KYIV, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pored over a once-classified map of vast deposits of rare earths and other critical minerals during an interview with Reuters on Friday, part of a push to appeal to Donald Trump's penchant for a deal.

The U.S. president, whose administration is pressing for a rapid end to Ukraine's war with Russia, said on Monday he wanted Ukraine to supply the U.S. with rare earths and other minerals in return for financially supporting its war effort.

Reuters

20 hours ago

Exclusive: Zelenskiy says 'Let's do a deal', offering Trump mineral partnership, seeking security | Reuters

Zelenskiy ready to offer US mineral deal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday pored over a once-classified map of vast deposits of rare earths and other critical minerals as part of a push to appeal to US President Donald Trump’s penchant for a deal.

The US president, whose administration is pressing for a rapid end to Ukraine’s war with Russia, on Monday said he wanted Ukraine to supply the US with rare earths and other minerals in return for financially supporting its war effort.

“If we are talking about a deal, then let’s do a deal, we are only for it,” Zelenskiy said, emphasizing Ukraine’s need for security guarantees from its allies as part of any settlement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy points on a map of strategic resources in Kyiv on Friday.

Photo: Reuters

Ukraine floated the idea of opening its critical minerals to investment by allies in fall last year, as it presented a “victory plan” that sought to put it in the strongest position for talks and force Moscow to the table.

Zelenskiy ready to offer US mineral deal

BACK TO BATTLE: North Korean soldiers have returned to the front lines in Russia’s Kursk region after earlier reports that Moscow had withdrawn them following heavy losses -- Reuters, KYIV

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday pored over a once-classified map of vast deposits of rare earths and other critical minerals as part of a push to appeal to US President Donald Trump’s penchant for a deal.

• The US president, whose administration is pressing for a rapid end to Ukraine’s war with Russia, on Monday said he wanted Ukraine to supply the US with rare earths and other minerals in return for financially supporting its war effort.

“If we are talking about a deal, then let’s do a deal, we are only for it,” Zelenskiy said, emphasizing Ukraine’s need for security guarantees from its allies as part of any settlement.

Ukraine floated the idea of opening its critical minerals to investment by allies in fall last year, as it presented a “victory plan” that sought to put it in the strongest position for talks and force Moscow to the table.

• Zelenskiy said less than 20% of Ukraine’s mineral resources, including about half its rare earth deposits, were under Russian occupation.
• Rare earths are important in the manufacture of high-performance magnets, electric motors and consumer electronics.

Zelenskiy said Moscow could open those resources to its allies North Korea and Iran, both sworn US enemies.

“We need to stop Putin and protect what we have — a very rich Dnipro region, central Ukraine,” he said.

 

Russian troops have been gaining ground in the east for months, throwing huge resources into an unrelenting offensive, while Kyiv’s much smaller army grapples with a shortage of soldiers and frets over future weapons supplies from abroad.

• On Friday, Russia said its forces had seized the key mining town of Toretsk in east Ukraine, the biggest settlement Moscow claims to have captured since Avdiivka in February last year. 
• Kyiv denied Russia had full control of the industrial hub.

Zelenskiy unfurled a map on a table in the heavily-defended president’s office in Kyiv, showing numerous mineral deposits, including a broad strip of land in the east marked as containing rare earths. 

About half of it looked to be on Russia’s side of the current front lines.