Ukraine Open to Trump's Idea to Exchange Aid for Rare Earths—But There's a Catch

President Trump has indicated he is open to supplying Ukraine with more weapons in exchange for access to the country's mineral resources.

- Ian Lovett

Ukraine is on board, but putting the plan into practice might not be so easy: Many of the minerals of greatest interest to the U.S. are in areas under Russian occupation or threatened by Moscow's advance.

As a result, access to valuable Ukrainian natural resources will depend, at least in part, on the battle for eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces are currently advancing slowly but steadily.

That's especially true for rare earths, a collection of minerals that have become essential in certain high-tech industries, including defense and renewable energy—in which Trump has expressed particular interest. Currently, the majority of the world's supply of rare earths come from China.

"We're looking to do a deal with Ukraine where they're going to secure what we're giving them with their rare earths and other things," Trump said, speaking at the White House on Monday.

Though rare earth deposits have been found in several parts of Ukraine, by far the largest known field is in territory that spans the frontline in eastern Ukraine, according to maps published by the Ukrainian Geological Survey, the state regulator for mineral resources.

Ukraine also has substantial deposits of other valuable minerals, including lithium, cobalt and titanium. Ukraine says it has Europe's largest reserves of titanium, which is used to make alloys used in aircraft and naval vessels, and lithium, which is used in batteries.