News: The US has proposed gaining access to 50% of Ukraine’s mineral resources in return for military support. Trump claims that Ukraine owes the US $500 billion worth of resources in exchange for past military aid.
About Ukraine’s Critical Minerals
- Abundant Reserves: Ukraine possesses 22 of the 50 strategic minerals identified as critical by the US. It holds 25 out of 34 minerals recognized as critical by the EU.
- Key Minerals:
- Graphite – Essential for batteries and energy storage.
- Lithium – Crucial for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and renewable energy.
- Titanium – Used in aerospace, defense, and industrial applications.
- Beryllium – Important for high-tech equipment, satellites, and defense.
- Uranium – Vital for nuclear energy and defense purposes.
- Global Significance: Ukraine’s mineral wealth plays a crucial role in defense, technology, and clean energy. These resources are valuable as China controls a large portion of the global supply of critical minerals.
- Exploration and Extraction Challenges: Many reserves are underexplored, with old geological surveys from the Soviet era. A significant portion of deposits, including lithium and rare earth elements, are in Russian-occupied territories.
