Ukraine is ready to fulfill Donald Trump's demand to give the US significant benefits from its underground minerals. The Ukrainian president, during an interview with the International News Agency Reuters, unfolded a map on a table in the president's office, showing numerous mineral deposits, including a wide strip of land.
He said Ukraine had the largest reserves of titanium in Europe, essential for the aviation and space industries, and uranium, used for nuclear energy and weapons. “If we are talking about a deal, then let’s make a deal, we are only for ideas,” Zelenskyy said, stressing Ukraine’s need for security guarantees from its allies as part of any solution.
Ukraine, according to Reuters, was the first to float the idea of auctioning off its critical minerals to investment from allies last fall, after presenting a "victory plan" that sought to put it in a stronger negotiating position and force Moscow to sit at the table.
Zelenskiy said that less than 20% of Ukraine's mineral resources, including about half of its rare earth deposits, were under Russian occupation. Zelenskiy stressed that Kiev was not proposing to "give away" Ukraine's resources, but rather to offer a mutually beneficial partnership to develop them together.
"The Americans helped the most, and therefore the Americans should gain the most. And they should have this priority, and they will have it. I would also like to talk about this with President Trump," the Ukrainian President emphasized to Reuters.
Zelenskiy said Kiev and the White House were discussing the idea of using Ukraine's vast underground gas storage sites to store U.S. liquefied natural gas.
"I know the Trump administration is very interested in it... We are ready and willing to have contracts for LNG supplies to Ukraine. And of course, we will be a hub for all of Europe," he said.
He said Russia knew in detail where Ukraine's critical resources were from Soviet-era geological surveys that were returned to Moscow when Kiev gained independence in 1991. (A2 Televizion)
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