Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reportedly resisted an initial U.S. attempt to secure a controlling stake in Ukraine’s vast critical mineral wealth in exchange for continued military and economic aid. According to Reuters, the U.S. proposed taking ownership of 50% of Ukraine’s critical minerals. While Zelensky did not outright reject the proposal, he indicated that it lacked the necessary security guarantees Kyiv requires.

This struggle over Ukraine’s natural resources underscores a broader geopolitical contest. The value of Ukraine’s mineral wealth is not merely the $500 billion figure often cited by U.S. officials— but looks like it is far greater.

Ukraine's untapped treasure trove

Ukraine is home to approximately 5% of the world’s mineral resources, despite occupying just 0.4% of the Earth's surface. A 2022 study by Hanna Liventseva, chair of Ukraine’s Association of Geologists, highlighted the country’s geological diversity, which spans all three main components of the Earth's crust.

According to Ukrainian government data, Ukraine possesses deposits of 22 out of the 34 minerals classified as

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