Ukraine announces it has begun negotiations with the US over mines

Ukraine has responded to US President Donald Trump's demand for the country's mines in exchange for the support they have provided to Ukraine in the war. The Ukrainian Presidency announced that it has begun talks with the US over the mines. Trump had requested that the country's rare earth element and mineral deposits be placed under US control in exchange for the continuation of military aid provided to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a statement regarding this demand, expressed that he is open to an agreement with the US.

Following these developments, the Ukrainian Presidency issued a statement today (February 13) confirming that they are holding negotiation talks with the US regarding the mines.

Ukraine's rare earth element and mineral deposits are used in the production of high-tech products. These minerals are of great importance in fields such as chip manufacturing, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, space technologies, and military equipment. However, during the war, approximately half of these deposits fell under Russian control.

In an interview with Reuters on February 7, Zelenskyy stated the following:

''If we are talking about a deal, then let's make a deal. The Americans were the ones who helped the most, and therefore they should be the ones who gain the most.''

The Ukrainian leader emphasized that the rich mineral deposits, particularly in the Dnipro region, must be protected, and stated that he wants to discuss this issue with Trump.

Trump, claiming that the US has spent 500 billion dollars for Ukraine, said he wants Ukraine's mines to recover this money. The US President stated that if the mines are not given to them, military aid to Kyiv will end.

LATEST SITUATION IN THE UKRAINE WAR

In the summer of 2024, the Ukrainian army launched an offensive to retake the regions where the mines are located, but this attempt was unsuccessful. Russia continued to keep the mineral deposits under its control. After Trump took office in January 2025, military aid to Ukraine was halted. Following this decision, the Russian army launched large-scale attacks against Ukrainian forces.

With the resumption of US aid, Trump made it a condition that Ukraine's mineral deposits come under US control. While Zelenskyy initially reacted to this demand, he announced that he was ready to come to the table as the Russian advance accelerated.

Ukraine had proposed the idea of opening the mines to the use of allies in the summer of 2024 and had requested support from the US and NATO in return. However, this plan failed due to Russia's resistance. Trump's new demand has sparked a new debate regarding the future of the war and the sharing of Ukraine's resources.

Zelenskyy emphasized that reaching an agreement with the US regarding the usage rights of the mines is important for Ukraine's security and the end of the war.

News Source: 12punto