Sources in Ukrainian Presidential Office comment on Trump's statement about rare earth resources
Photo: Donald Trump, President of the United States (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump has shown interest in Ukraine's rare earth metals. The idea of their joint extraction was proposed as part of a victory plan, according to a source in the Office of the President of Ukraine.
"This was part of the victory plan. We have special resources, including rare earth elements, uranium, lithium, and titanium, and it's important that they don't fall into Russia's hands. That's why President (Volodymyr Zelenskyy - ed.) suggested that they should be specially protected and specially used with key partners," the source stated.
The source clarified that security guarantees are needed first to protect these rare earth resources from Russian threats.
According to RBC-Ukraine's source, President Zelenskyy discussed this issue with Donald Trump during their meeting last fall.
What Trump said
Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that Ukraine has valuable rare earth metals. He is interested in such resources in exchange for assistance from the United States.
He also noted that Europe is lagging in terms of assistance to Ukraine and he would like European countries to pay an equal amount to the United States.
On February 3, the American President officially appointed Keith Kellogg as a Special Envoy for Russia and Ukraine.
