Trump’s stern warning to Zelensky not to back down from the deal!
US President Donald Trump warned his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, of the repercussions of backing out of an agreement granting the United States rights to exploit rare earth minerals in Ukraine, noting that any such move would expose him to very big problems, as Trump is pressuring Zelensky amid his mediation in the war.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said, “I see him trying to back out of the rare earths agreement… And if he does, he’s going to have some problems… Big, big problems”.
This warning comes as Trump plays a mediating role between Ukraine and Russia in an attempt to end the war, while pressuring Zelensky to move forward with the agreement.
In a related context, the Russian Izvestia newspaper revealed the commencement of negotiations between Moscow and Washington regarding projects related to rare earth minerals in Russia.
According to Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), this sector represents an important area for cooperation, adding, “We’ve begun discussions on various rare earth minerals and related projects in Russia, and there is interest from some American companies to participate in these projects”.
According to reports, a new round of talks between the two sides is expected to be held in mid-April in the Saudi capital , Riyadh, where the discussions won’t only cover political issues but also economic cooperation.
Dmitriev previously noted that Russia’s rare earth mineral reserves are several times larger than those of Ukraine, stressing that Moscow is ready to cooperate with American companies and entities in this field.
According to the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources, the country’s total reserves of rare earth minerals amount to approximately 658 million tons, of which 28.5 million tons are rare earth minerals, strengthening Russia’s position as a major player in this strategic sector.
