U.S. President Donald Trump has been vocal about ending the Ukraine war. Initially, his stance appeared to be anti-war, but over time, commercial interests have come to light. Eventually, Trump openly claimed control over Ukraine’s mineral resources. To advance ceasefire discussions, Ukraine has reached a preliminary agreement with the U.S. on mineral resource contracts. But what minerals in Ukraine have caught Trump’s interest?
According to reports from Reuters and other international media outlets, Ukraine’s mineral resources are of immense global significance, particularly for electric vehicles and nuclear reactor batteries. The European Union has identified 34 strategic minerals, of which 22 are found in Ukraine.
It is believed that Ukraine holds about 5% of the world’s essential raw materials. The country has a confirmed deposit of 19 million tons of graphite, a critical component in electric vehicle batteries.
Ukraine’s Mineral Agreement: A Turning Point in the War
One-third of Europe’s lithium reserves are located in Ukraine. Lithium is a key material used in modern battery production. Before Russia’s full-scale invasion three years ago, Ukraine accounted for 7% of the world’s titanium production. Titanium is widely used in industries ranging from aerospace to power plants.
Ukraine also has significant deposits of rare earth elements. These 17 rare earth minerals are essential for weapon production, wind turbines, electronics, and various other high-tech industries. Some of these mines are currently under Russian control. According to Ukraine’s Finance Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, Russian-occupied territories contain at least $350 billion worth of mineral resources.