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🗞️ Driving the news: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed willingness to sign a minerals deal with the U.S., despite initial tensions with Donald Trump
• The deal aims to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction, repay U.S. aid, and reduce American reliance on Chinese minerals
• U.S. and Ukrainian officials plan to discuss the agreement next week in Saudi Arabia
🔭 The context: Ukraine holds an estimated 5% of the world’s rare-earth minerals, but much of this data is outdated
• Extracting and processing these resources could take up to 18 years, and a significant portion lies in war-torn eastern Ukraine
• Past conflicts, like those in Afghanistan and Syria, highlight the risks of pursuing resource-driven strategies
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Reducing dependence on China for critical minerals could diversify global supply chains
• However, extracting these resources in a conflict zone raises ethical and environmental concerns
• A rush for minerals may also intensify geopolitical tensions and military involvement
⏭️ What's next: If U.S. companies invest in Ukrainian minerals, they may require protection from Russian attacks, potentially dragging the U.S. deeper into the conflict
• Alternative partnerships with mineral-rich allied nations like Canada, Australia, or Norway could provide safer options
• Trump’s approach to the deal will signal his broader strategy on Ukraine and resource security
💬 One quote: "The more assets that U.S. companies have on the ground, the more security it creates for the Ukrainian people." — U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
📈 One stat: Ukraine is estimated to contain 22 of the 34 minerals critical to U.S. national security, according to the U.N.
See sustainability performance of mining companies like ArcelorMital, BHP and Glencore
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