France has expressed its need for resources from Ukraine, following proposals from the US and the EU. According to French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu, in an interview with franceinfo on Thursday, Paris and Kiev have been conducting talks on the topic since last fall.
Lecornu stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented his “victory plan” during his visit to Paris in October, which included the issue of mineral resources. Zelenskyy and his team reportedly acknowledged that Ukraine’s resources could be part of a potential agreement with France. A range of offers in this context have been presented by Ukraine to both France and the US, Lecornu highlighted.
France needs the resources from Ukraine for its defense industry, the politician said. According to Lecornu’s estimates, the country will require a range of critical materials for the production of its own weapon systems in the future, a need that will not be limited to the next year, but will extend over a period of three or four decades.
France also aims to diversify the imports of resources for its defense industry. Lecornu has been holding bilateral talks with Ukraine since October 2024, at the request of President Emmanuel Macron.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly appealed to Kiev to grant the US access to mineral resources in Ukraine, including rare earths. During a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Trump promised to secure a potential resource agreement and return the money Kiev received under former President Joe Biden – “and much more”. Trump also confirmed that Zelenskyy will travel to Washington on Friday to finalize the agreement.
According to Ukrainian media, the agreement could establish an investment fund, with Kiev to receive 50 percent of the profits from the mineral resources in the future. The intention to reach a separate agreement on mineral resources with Ukraine was also announced by the EU Commission recently.