America is determined for rare earth minerals. China was supplying the US with round 70% of all such minerals, however they’re not going to produce them to an enemy nation to create weapons. As I discussed yesterday, that is exactly why America is determined to entry Ukraine. I acquired just a few feedback asking why the US has not begun digging, and sadly, they’re unable to succeed in these essential minerals because of the ongoing battle.
It’s estimated that Ukraine holds 5% of the world’s important uncooked supplies. Ukrainian officers imagine they’ve 19 million tonnes of graphite reserves and important deposits of titanium, uncommon earth metals, and lithium. The present plan would require harvesting as much as HALF of Ukraine’s minerals and uncommon earth supplies.
On April 30, 2025, Ukraine and the US finalized a minerals deal and established a United States–Ukraine Reconstruction Funding Fund. Congress accredited a $50 million protection package deal to Ukraine via direct business gross sales (DCS). Trump is a businessman at the beginning—the mineral deal needed to be accredited earlier than he would approve of any assist package deal. The US now has preferential rights to extract minerals from Ukraine.
Why hasn’t the US begun digging? An estimated 50% of Ukrainian minerals are in areas underneath Russian management. The Donbas region, the Donetsk and Luhansk are wealthy in important minerals, uncommon earth minerals, coal, and fuel. They host the Shevchenko lithium discipline. Russia presently controls 40% of Ukraine’s metallic assets and 56% of its coal reserves. Different important websites are inside a 10-mile radius of occupied enemy territory. Dnipropetrovsk & Kharkiv have uranium, however they’re unstable as a result of frontline advances. Zaporizhzhia has the uncommon earth components that America is searching for however it’s partially occupied by Russian troops and very harmful. Central and Western Ukraine could possibly be protected for extractions, however they’re far much less wealthy in minerals.
The place else can the West flip? Europe faces the identical disaster. Estonia has uncommon minerals, however not sufficient to fulfill demand, with the nation presently offering the US with 5% of its wants. Malaysia imports about 13% of US uncommon earth imports, with Japan offering one other 6%. Japan has minerals, however nonetheless imports from China. They plan to start extracting uncommon earth minerals from the Minami-Torishima Island in 2026, marking the world’s first large-scale mining operation 6,000 meters beneath the ocean. Scientists imagine that the realm might include round 16 million tonnes of uncommon earth components, however that may be a mere estimate. Malaysia has a low mineral reserve compared to different nations and can’t be an alternate provider. Malaysia hosts the Lynas Company, the most important uncommon earths processor exterior China, however the nation has modest reserves.
So whereas Ukraine could maintain practically $15 trillion value of essential minerals and 15% of the world’s reserves, they can’t be accessed because of the ongoing battle. China and Russia are ample in minerals and haven’t any restrictions in relation to weapon manufacturing. China has pioneered molten salt reactors to supply uranium and convert it into nuclear power. America’s enemies have a notable benefit proper now and there aren’t any dependable alternate options.
