What is happening in the Deal with Trump

Rare earth investment in Ukraine: a first step toward a unified security and security pact for the U.S. and the EU

Titanium is used in construction, airplanes and orthopedic implants, among many other things. 6 percent of global production is accounted for by the titanium mines in central Ukranian.

Lithium is a crucial element in batteries, including those in electric vehicles, and in other industrial products, including some medications. Some of the sites of Europe’s reserves are in war-contested areas. Ukrainian officials had talked about investing in Ukrainian lithium mines to Musk.

Rare earths are a group of more than a dozen metals, much less abundant than Titanium or Lithium, that are used in many high-tech sectors, including green energy, electronics and aerospace. Ukraine has a lot of undiscovered reserves that are not well known, and it is difficult to tell how much they will cost to extract.

Europe, Japan, and the United States all depend on China for rare earth elements according to Serhiy Vyzhva, a director of the Institute of Geology.

Other ores, minerals and energy are less strategic but still valuable. Ukrainian oil and natural gas reserves could be a source of revenue for the U.S.-controlled fund envisioned in the agreement.

Zelenskyy said it was a preliminary step toward a broader agreement. “The priority is not to lose the U.S. as a main guarantor of security for Ukraine,” he said.

According to the agreement, the U.S. supports the efforts of Ukraine to establish lasting peace. It doesn’t specify who the guarantees would be given by or what shape they would take.

Most of Ukraine’s mineral wealth is located in the “Ukrainian Shield”, according to a report co-authored by Muggah.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) highlights that the war has decimated critical infrastructure, including nearly half of Ukraine’s power-generation capacity. Mining, one of the most energy-intensive industries, faces major obstacles, with companies hesitant to invest in the face of ongoing security risks.

The United States is not going to cooperate with Russia: Mr. Zelensky’s best concern is the situation in the aftermath of a cease-fire

China is the world’s largest producer of titanium, however Ukraine is one of the top ten for reserves and accounts for 7% of global production. Australia, Russia, and Canada are some of the major suppliers. The U.S. mines titanium in a few states.

China is the top producer and holder of the largest amount of reserves, accounting for 75% of the global supply. Ukraine, however, is thought to have one of the largest graphite deposits in the world, though its production is minimal, contributing just 0.5% of global output in 2020.

Nickel, a silvery-white metal used in alloys like stainless steel, is critical in battery and jet engine production. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the largest producer ofcobalt, a metal used in batteries and in a wide range of applications.

Obtaining such guarantees from Washington, the only nuclear-armed power truly capable of standing up to Russia, had been Mr. Zelensky’s central demand. His greatest concern is being forced into a cease-fire, only to discover Russia uses the time to rebuild its military, regroup and attempt to seize his country again.

“I’m not going to provide security guarantees beyond very much,” he said at his first cabinet meeting, which was dominated by discussion of the firing of government workers and other efforts being overseen by Elon Musk, who has taken an outsized role in the administration. Europe is going to do that.

Mr. Trump had not spoken publicly about what role, if any, the United States would play in deterring Russia from one day restarting the conflict. He stood in silence on Monday when Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, repeatedly brought up the topic of security guarantees at a joint news conference at the White House.

Europe is afraid that Mr. Trump has switched sides in the war, and is seeking a better relationship with Russia. While Mr. Trump takes a different stance on Russia, the incoming chancellor of Germany declared he would like to seek independence from the U.S.A.

The Bessent-Zelensky Economic Security Guarantee: Why the Russians are Wrong and Why We Shouldn’t

“I call it an economic security guarantee,” Mr. Bessent said last weekend. He has been negotiating the minerals agreement with Mr. Zelensky and his aides.

European officials aren’t sure of what a force like that might look like. But the purpose and shape of the force could make a very big difference.

A peacekeeping force of the kind that Mr. Trump talked about might require 100,000 troops or more — a figure bigger than Britain, France and Germany could muster without pulling key forces from other missions, including those tied to defending NATO territory. Some officials say 10,000 troops could be the size of an observational force, but it would simply observe any violations and report them.

An even smaller force could be a “tripwire” that would bring in a larger response to any military moves by the Russians, but that only works if the United States and its allies are prepared to respond.