Ukraine must provide Washington with its valuable natural resources if it wants to continue receiving American aid

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): US President Donald Trump also said: Ukraine must enter into a new agreement with the United States and provide guarantees to Washington so that we can continue providing aid to this country.

 

According to the Russia Today news network, according to the World Economic Forum report in 2024, Ukraine has great potential as a global supplier of vital raw materials that can be essential for the defense industry, high technology and green energy.

 

Ukraine has the largest titanium reserves in Europe, accounting for 7% of global reserves. Before the conflict with Moscow became serious in 2022, Ukraine was a key supplier of titanium for the military industry.

 

The list of rare earth metals found in Ukraine includes beryllium, manganese, gallium, uranium, zirconium, graphite, apatite, fluorite and nickel. The country also has Europe’s largest proven reserves of lithium, estimated at around 500,000 tonnes. The mineral is particularly important for use in batteries.

 

“Ukraine is a country with the richest and most unique mineral resources. In order for the United States to continue to provide aid to Ukraine and provide financial resources to the country, Kiev must provide a number of guarantees,” Trump told reporters.

 

“We are looking for an agreement with Ukraine under which they can give us something in return for our aid,” the US president continued.

 

In recent days, Trump has suspended all foreign aid programs from the US Agency for International Development. The agency has also overseen numerous aid programs for Ukraine.

 

In response to Trump’s decision, Ukrainian lawmakers called on the European Union to replace the United States in the aid package, saying foreign aid is a critical part of Ukraine’s democratic development and stability.

 

They also said that recipients of U.S. aid in Ukraine have been hit hardest by Trump’s decision.

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told The Associated Press in an interview published Sunday that Kiev has received just over $75 billion in military and other aid from Washington.

 

He clarified Trump’s previous statement that the United States has given Kiev “$200 billion more than the European Union,” claiming that he did not know where that estimate came from or what the money could be spent on.

 

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Schulz criticized Trump’s offer of guarantees for continued aid to Ukraine, saying, “Ukraine needs resources for reconstruction after this war. This is Trump’s selfish proposal.”

 

He also stressed that in the future Ukraine will need a strong army and funds to rebuild the country, adding: "Given the enormous destruction that is taking place in Ukraine, these are huge tasks. That is why I think it would be better if Ukraine's resources were used for a good future."