Trump suggests Ukraine supply rare earth minerals in exchange for US aid

US President Donald Trump has proposed that Ukraine provide rare earth minerals to the United States in exchange for continued military and financial support in its war against Russia.

Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump said Washington had already provided nearly $300 billion in aid to Kyiv and suggested a deal could be made to match this assistance. According to the US president, Ukraine is “ready” for such an arrangement.

It is unclear whether Trump was referring strictly to rare earth elements, a group of 17 metals crucial for high-tech industries, or if he was using the term more broadly. Ukraine has significant reserves of critical minerals such as uranium, titanium, and lithium, though they do not fall under the official category of rare earths.

The proposal has drawn criticism from European leaders. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, speaking in Brussels, called the idea “selfish and short-sighted,” arguing that Ukraine will need its natural resources to rebuild after the war.

The Ukrainian government has not officially responded to Trump’s remarks. However, in late 2024, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented a “Victory Plan” that included investment agreements with the US and the EU to develop Ukraine’s mineral extraction industry.