What critical materials and minerals does Ukraine have and why does Trump, and others, demand access?!
A deal for US access to Ukraine's coveted minerals and rare earths is still in play, Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this week, despite the continuing deterioration in US-Ukraine relations.
The signing of the deal, which has already been agreed to in a framework, was marred by a heated confrontation between Trump and Zelenskyy last Friday. The US has since temporarily cut off its military aid to Ukraine. But Kiev hopes that the prospect of privileged US access to Ukraine's natural resources could help persuade Trump to commit to long-term security guarantees.
Trump has previously said the deal will allow the US to recover financial aid it has given to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. He puts that figure at $350 billion, while only $83.4 billion has actually been disbursed since 2022 according to US government data. Euroverify reveals what critical materials and minerals Ukraine has and why Trump may still seek access to them.
What raw materials and minerals does Ukraine have?
The World Economic Forum (WEF) estimates that there are 20,000 mineral deposits covering 116 types in Ukraine, 3,055 (15%) of which were active before Russia's invasion in 2022. According to Ukraine's economy ministry, these include 22 of the 34 raw materials listed as "critical" under the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), a 2024 bill aimed at minimizing the bloc's reliance on geo-strategic rivals such as China for materials needed to produce electric vehicles, microchips and other electrical panels.
Ukraine has about 500,000 tons of untapped lithium, essential for the production of rechargeable batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs). This is equivalent to about a third of Europe’s reserves and 3% of global reserves. Two major sites, the Shevchenko Deposit (Donetsk) and Kruta Balka (Zaporizhzhya), are currently located in occupied or conflict zones.
Ukraine also accounts for 6% of global titanium production, according to the Kiev School of Economics, used in aerospace, military and medical applications, and is the world's 5th largest producer of gallium, essential for semiconductors. It is among the top five countries in the world in terms of graphite reserves, also essential for EV battery production, and is among the top ten countries worldwide for reserves of carbon, manganese, iron, titanium and uranium.
In addition to these raw materials, Ukraine is believed to have significant reserves of rare earths, a group of 17 metallic elements also used in high-tech devices such as smartphones, wind turbines and MRIs. While the extent of its rare earth deposits is confidential, they are estimated to make up 5% of global reserves, according to the UN.
How many are held in the occupied territories?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Russia currently controls approximately 20% of Ukraine's mineral resources, which corresponds to the amount of Ukrainian territory it occupies. Ukrainian studies cited by Reuters say that about 40% of Ukraine's metals are on Russian-controlled lands.
A look at the map shows that large deposits of lithium, titanium, and rare earths are in the southeastern provinces that Russia has captured since it invaded in 2022. The invasion has already disrupted the supply chains of many of these minerals.
Why do other countries require access?
China dominates the raw materials processing market, making other global powers dependent on it. Beijing has in recent years banned or restricted exports of critical raw materials to the European Union and the United States, forcing the West to intensify efforts to diversify supply chains as demand for such materials skyrockets.
In 2021, the European Union and Ukraine reached a strategic partnership on raw materials, described as aiming to “help diversify, strengthen and secure the supply of both sides”. The European Commissioner for Industrial Strategy, Stéphane Séjourné, recently called on the EU to fully implement that partnership, describing it as “a win-win for Ukrainians”.
Is the US-Ukraine deal still alive?
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said Tuesday that Kiev is ready to sign the mining deal with the United States “at any time.” Asked Monday if the deal was “dead,” President Trump replied: “No, I don’t think so. I think it’s a great deal for us.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who along with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron is expected to take the lead in drafting a ceasefire plan to be presented to the US, has said that Trump's proposed minerals deal would not be a sufficient security guarantee to ensure a lasting peace in Ukraine.
Poll
The registration deadline for voters from the diaspora ends/ CEC: Over 230 thousand requests approved!
The Central Election Commission announces that the deadline for Albanian citizens living abroad to apply to the Electronic Registration Platform (PER) to......
The reconstruction of the substation in Pogradec/Balluku is completed: Better supply for 20 thousand subscribers!
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku announced today that in the city of Pogradec, work has been completed on the......
What happened in the foreign exchange market today?
The US dollar has suffered a significant drop in value this morning, as compared to yesterday it was bought today for 92.4 lek and sold for 93.9 lek......
Euro hits 3-month high as EU prepares to increase defense spending
The euro rose for a second straight day of trading after Germany's incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the government would unlock billions of euros for......
AAPSK doubles revenues from the administration of seized and confiscated assets in 2024
The Agency for the Administration of Sequestered and Confiscated Assets (AAPSK) has doubled its income from the rental of seized and confiscated properties......
Albania-Israel/Balluku: From April 2, direct connection through mutual flights!
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku, announced today that starting April 2, Albania and Israel will be connected......
EU gives carmakers breathing space - 'Relaxes' pollution targets as electric vehicle sales fall
European carmakers will be given two extra years to meet this year's environmental target, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen......
Euro again in the "counting place" - BoA: "Stuck" below 100 lek. January's recovery, how much did it show in exports?
Since January, it seems that the euro-lek exchange rate is no longer showing signs of improvement. But how has it performed in the first two months of the......
