Ukraine eyes mineral leverage in discussions with Trump

According to the "New York Times," Kyiv is concerned about the potential loss of American military aid if the Republican candidate succeeds. As a result, Ukraine is actively exploring new avenues to ensure continued support from the United States. President Volodymyr Zelensky highlights the strategic importance of Ukrainian natural resources to US economic interests.

The newspaper notes that Zelensky is fully aware of the serious consequences that losing American military aid could bring, a potential outcome if Donald Trump wins. In light of this, Kyiv appears to be exploring strategies to address Trump’s familiar deal-based approach to foreign policy.

Ukraine boasts substantial mineral resources: approximately 7 percent of the world's titanium reserves, 20 percent of its graphite reserves, and 500,000 tons of lithium, which is vital in the production of batteries for electric vehicles. The Canadian consulting firm SecDev estimated in 2022 that the total value of Ukraine's mineral resources, including coal, gas, and oil, amounts to about 26 trillion dollars.

The New York newspaper highlights that Ukrainian officials, British intelligence, and independent investigators report Russia has begun extracting certain resources from the occupied areas.

The paper also references a recent statement by Zelensky, who noted that these valuable resources "will either strengthen Russia and her allies or Ukraine and the democratic world."

The President of Ukraine argues that supporting his country aligns with America's economic interests, as Ukraine "is rich in natural resources, including critical metals worth trillions of US dollars." This position is intended to persuade the US administration to maintain its support, leveraging the potential of Ukraine's natural wealth as an incentive.