Description: US and Ukraine representatives have apparently reiterated on the rare earth mineral deal that could see US – based companies exploiting the untampered Ukrainian deposits of up to 17 rare earth metals critical for consumer-based industries. Previously, Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenskyy has denounced the possibility of signing an agreement with the US that would indebt Ukraine for the next 10 generations as the Trump administration demanded up to $500 billion in material restitution for ongoing military support provided by the US. Speculation that the deal was back on the negotiating table was confirmed by Ukrainian deputy Prime Minister, Olha Stefanishyna on the X platform as she posted that US and Ukrainian teams were nearing a final proposal. Uncertainties remain as how would companies extract those rare earth minerals as up to 40% of Ukraine’s deposits fell under the Russian de – facto – controlled territories.
Impact: Ukraine is currently facing several key decisions as it fell victim of the dissolution among the EU – US bilateral ranks. The US is using its reestablished relations with Russia to pressure Ukraine into signing an unfavorable agreement as the trade war with its most prominent adversary – China was reignited with Donald Trump’s return to office. Ukraine is currently divided between unconditional support from EU countries which are also scrambling for US support or conditioned military and security guarantees from the US in case the rare earth mineral deal is concluded. Counteroffer was submitted by Russian President Vladimir Putin which also offered the US economic cooperation in the field of rare earth mineral exploitation and oil and gas supply, in an attempt to further downplay Ukraine’s position in the peace talks.