President Donald Trump is pushing for a deal with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding Ukraine’s mineral resources, aiming to create a joint investment fund with the U.S. that would share future revenues from minerals, oil, natural gas, and other materials. Trump believes this deal could potentially generate substantial profits to repay the U.S. for its assistance in defending Ukraine against Russia’s invasion. The focus of the agreement is on rare-earth elements and raw materials, including minerals vital for various industries like computer manufacturing. Ukraine, despite not currently producing rare earth metals, holds significant deposits such as lanthanum, cerium, neodymium, yttrium, and lithium.

The term “raw earth” appears to be a shorthand used by Trump to encompass the diverse range of raw materials covered in the proposed deal, including rare-earth elements. Ukraine’s substantial natural resources make it a crucial player in this potential agreement. While the specifics of the reserves remain classified, Ukraine’s significant holdings of critical raw materials have the potential to make this deal highly lucrative. The outcome of the deal is uncertain following a discordant meeting involving Trump, Zelenskyy, and Vice President JD Vance, which led to the cancellation of a planned joint press conference. Despite the obstacles, the focus on securing access to Ukraine’s valuable mineral resources underscores the strategic importance of this potential agreement for both countries.