On April 30, the United States and Ukraine signed an agreement regarding subsoil resources, opening new opportunities for mineral extraction in Ukraine. However, the actual value of these natural resources remains unknown. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed the view that Ukrainian subsoil resources could be worth trillions. In turn, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that the country’s mineral wealth is “priceless.”
This is reported by Finway
Challenges in Mineral Extraction and Processing
Efforts to extract and process minerals in Ukraine are progressing slowly, which may require the creation of new, extensive infrastructure with uncertain costs. According to experts, in many cases, mineral deposits are not economically viable for development. The extraction of critical minerals such as lithium, graphite, uranium, and titanium, which are actively sought by the U.S., “requires billions in investments,” reported the director of SecDev, a company that conducted research on Ukraine’s resources prior to the meeting between Trump and Zelensky at the White House in late February.
Long-Term Prospects for Access to Minerals
Gaining access for the U.S. to Ukrainian minerals could become a long-term investment, as developing new mines may take over 10 years. It is important to note that currently, 40% of critical minerals are located in areas of Ukraine that are now occupied by Russia.