Quotes
What we can tell is that Ukraine is dissatisfied with the mineral deal, but eventually it may have to sign,
Zhang Hong, a research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday, noting that
Ukraine may still have to sign, however, because Kiev believes that if it doesn't, it could lead to an abrupt break in relations with the Trump administration. For Ukraine, US support is now indispensable,
Zhang saidHowever, does signing an agreement guarantee Ukraine's security? From the current perspective, it seems that Trump administration is more focused on US-Russia strategic stability, easing tensions between the US and Russia, and the US pivoting its strategic focus from Europe to Asia,
Zhang said
I hear that (Zelensky is) coming on Friday. Certainly it's OK with me if he'd like to, and he would like to sign it together with me. And I understand that's a big deal, very big deal,
US President Donald Trump said from the Oval Office on Tuesday, per CNN$350 billion and lots of equipment, military equipment, and the right to fight on."
Asked what Ukraine would receive in the mineral deal, Trump saidWe are looking at very unclear, very shadowy dealings, and there are many questions about this deal particularly in the state of war,
said Petrov
Ultimately, we don’t know what’s underground with much detail in Ukraine. The majority of Ukraine was mapped 30 to 60 years ago by the Soviet Union, and there's not a lot of updated data mapping,
said Baskaran, who is director of the Critical Minerals Security Program at US-based think tank Center for Strategic and International StudiesPotentially, (gaining an upper hand on Beijing) is what the US administration is trying to do – play the Ukrainian natural resources against what China may have offered to the US economy,
said Leonid Petrov, senior lecturer and dean of business and management at the International College of Management, SydneyThis is not a short-term (project) that, by the end of Trump's term, we're going to see minerals coming this way. But again, remember that all minerals policy is long term,
she addedWhat we have now essentially is an agreement without actually understanding what is economically viable to mine. Just because you have a resource doesn't make it competitive to mine,
she told CNA’s Asia First programmeWe understand that Trump, who started the trade war with China, is now facing the interruption of supplies of rare earth metals from China,
he addedUkraine's deposits of rare earth elements might not be profitable to extract
S&P said
Ukraine is a significant global supplier of titanium and is a potential source of over 20 critical raw materials."
The European Commission has saidUkraine has several deposits containing rare earth elements" but none of these deposits have been mined
said Elena Safirova, a Ukraine specialist at the US Geological SurveyTo the credit of the first Trump administration, they have always put critical minerals as a very important policy priority because they knew they were so heavily reliant on China,
Moerenhout said
There are many deposits of interest in Ukraine,
BRGM told AFPIt’s one thing to have a deal that talks about how might we manage their extraction and their revenue,
Moerenhout said of the agreement.png)
The minerals agreement is only part of the picture. We have heard multiple times from the US administration that it’s part of a bigger picture.”
Deputy prime minister Olha Stefanishyna told the FT
I am not signing something that 10 generations of Ukrainians will have to repay,
Mr Zelensky had said, indicatingWe're telling Ukraine they have very valuable rare earths,
Mr Trump said