US and Ukraine discuss strategies to halt Russian rare earth extraction on occupied territories
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and US Special Representative Keith Kellogg (Photo: Facebook of Yulia Svyrydenko)
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko discussed security guarantees for Ukraine and Russia’s encroachment on critical minerals in occupied Ukrainian territories with US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg, according to Svyrydenko’s Facebook post.
Svyrydenko stated that one of the main topics of the meeting with the US Envoy Representative was security guarantees for Ukraine.
“They must be real - based on the UN Charter and with respect for our sovereignty,” she said. “True security guarantees are a strong Ukrainian army and a strong economy. We must maintain the potential of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and develop our own industry.”
The Prime Minister also emphasized that a key priority for Ukraine remains the return of all its citizens: prisoners of war, civilians, and deported children.
According to Yulia Svyrydenko, a separate topic of discussion was critical minerals and industrial assets that Russia is attempting to exploit in the temporarily occupied territories.
“It is unacceptable for their extraction or trade to be legalized,” she wrote.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that the state declassified data on critical mineral reserves. The Secret classification was lifted for information on lithium, gold, titanium, and other strategic minerals to open access for investors and facilitate sector development. The only mineral for which data remain classified is uranium.
On May 1, Ukraine and the US signed an agreement to establish a US-Ukrainian investment fund.
On June 16, the Ukrainian government approved the first steps under this historic agreement with the US regarding mineral resources, including preparations to open the large state-owned lithium deposit Dobra to private investors.
