February 11, Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump has tied continued American support for Ukraine to a hefty price tag: $500 billion worth of rare earth minerals.
In an interview aired Monday, Trump stated that the U.S. should receive compensation for the billions it has spent aiding Ukraine in its war against Russia. “We have to get something. We can’t continue to pay this money,” he said. According to Trump, Ukraine has “essentially agreed” to provide rare earth minerals as repayment.
Ukraine is rich in critical resources like lithium, titanium, coal, oil, gas, and uranium—many essential for modern technology. However, much of its energy wealth remains under Russian control. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sought to use these resources as leverage to secure continued U.S. support. As part of Ukraine’s “victory plan,” Zelenskyy has proposed granting American companies access to the country’s mineral deposits to encourage long-term investment.
“The Americans helped the most, and therefore the Americans should earn the most,” Zelenskyy told the press on Friday, adding that he hoped to discuss the idea with Trump directly.
Trump has previously indicated a desire to tap into Ukraine’s vast mineral reserves. Earlier this month, he told reporters in the Oval Office that the U.S. was negotiating a deal to secure its financial contributions with access to Ukraine’s resources.
His remarks have drawn criticism, particularly from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who condemned Trump’s approach as “very egotistic, very self-centered.”
Trump’s push to secure rare earth minerals aligns with his broader strategy to counter China in the global resource race. Rare earth elements are crucial for industries such as defense, electronics, and renewable energy, making control over these resources a key geopolitical issue.
As Ukraine continues to seek Western aid, Trump’s transactional foreign policy raises questions about the future of U.S.-Ukraine relations and the potential cost of continued American support.
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