The US administration is seeking an agreement with Ukraine regarding the supply of rare earth metals. President Donald Trump announced on Monday in Washington that Ukraine should provide metals needed for high-tech products such as smartphones and electric vehicles, in exchange for what the US would give.
Rare earth metals are essential for modern technologies, used in chip production, the manufacturing of electric vehicles and the defense industry. The current market is dominated by China, forcing the US into a strategic dependence. Trump views Ukraine as a potential alternative, as the country has significant deposits of rare earth metals like neodymium, dysprosium and terbium.
Some analysts consider Trump’s proposal a pragmatic move to make the US economy less dependent. Others, however, warn of political pressure on Kyiv. “Ukraine needs weapons, not unfair business politics” criticized a European diplomat.
Trump is back at the White House and Kyiv’s hopes for a win by Kamala Harris or the Democrats in general have proven to be a grave strategic miscalculation. Trump, known for his vengeful attitude and transactional political style, sent a clear message: those who seek US aid must pay a price.
Already during his first term, he forced NATO partners to take on a greater financial responsibility – now, Kyiv is in line. “There are no free lunches” a Trump aide declared. A cold wind blows through diplomatic channels.
Although there is no official confirmation of the plans, initial reactions from Ukraine suggest that the idea is facing resistance there. A advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke of a “dangerous precedent.”
The US would signal that military support is no longer provided out of security concerns, but out of economic calculation.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has spoken out against the stance of US President Donald Trump, who suggested using Ukrainian resources in exchange for military aid. Scholz emphasized that these resources should be used instead to finance the necessary measures for post-war reconstruction. He considers it a very short-sighted and egoistic strategy to use the money only for the current defense, rather than for a sustainable and future-oriented approach. Ukraine will in the future need a strong army and must also push forward with its reconstruction. In the face of the enormous destruction the country has suffered, he believes it is better to use the resources in a sustainable and future-oriented way.