Trump Claims U.S. Can Extract Ukraine Rare Earth Minerals

Donald Trump stated in an interview with Real America's Voice that the United States has the authority to extract nearly any rare earth deposits it desires from Ukraine. This claim is based on a minerals agreement signed in April 2025, which created the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund and granted the U.S. preferential access to uranium, graphite, titanium, and lithium projects.

Trump suggested that profits from these resources could exceed the total American aid provided to Ukraine since 2022. He estimated that aid totaled 300 billion dollars, although the US Special Inspector General for Operation Atlantic Resolve estimates appropriations at 195 billion dollars. While Ukraine maintains formal ownership and a 50% share of profits, the deal faces obstacles including ongoing conflict, infrastructure deficits, and corruption.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev responded by characterizing the agreement as evidence that the Ukrainian government has been broken and is now forced to pay for military supplies using its national wealth.