President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s ‘victory plan to combine economic and security incentives

Agencies WASHINGTON

Donald Trump wants to negotiate a deal with Ukraine, exchanging US military aid for access to the country’s rare earth resources—critical elements used in electronics. The proposal sparked controversy, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz calling it “selfish.” However, Ukrainian media suggested the idea may have originated in Kyiv to ensure continued weapons shipments.

Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump said he wanted “equalisation” for Washington’s nearly $300 billion in aid, according to The Guardian. “We’re telling Ukraine they have very valuable rare earths,” he stated. “We’re looking to do a deal where they secure what we’re giving them with their rare earths and other things.”

Rare earth elements, a group of 17 minerals essential for technologies like smartphones, electric vehicle batteries, and defence systems, are primarily produced by China, which accounts for 70% of global supply. The  US. has sought to reduce reliance on Beijing, making access to alternative sources a strategic priority.

Scholz criticised Trump’s transactional approach, arguing such resources should be reserved for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction. Germany is Ukraine’s second-largest military donor after the U.S.

Meanwhile, The Kyiv Independent reported that a deal over Ukraine’s resources was part of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s “victory plan”, which combines economic and security incentives for Western allies. Zelenskyy reportedly pitched the idea to foreign leaders during the US presidential campaign, anticipating that a Trump administration would push Kyiv toward a settlement with Moscow.

The proposal includes deals on Ukraine’s vast strategic mineral deposits, valued in the trillions. These include uranium, titanium, lithium, and graphite—though not rare earth metals—as well as unnamed “strategically valuable resources.”