The battle for eastern Ukraine: Ukrainian minerals can only be extracted after the war ends.

US President Donald Trump has said that he will offer Ukraine military assistance in exchange for access to Ukraine’s rare earth metals and other minerals. However, the problem is that most of these reserves are located near the front line or in occupied territories. Therefore, access to a significant part of these valuable resources will depend on the battle for eastern Ukraine, writes the WSJ.

“Without a lasting peace in Ukraine, gaining access to these assets will be difficult. A simple ceasefire is not enough,” the International Institute for Strategic Studies emphasizes.

Concerning rare earth metals, Ukraine’s reserves are concentrated in the central regions, though they have not been developed and their value is unknown. According to AmCham, Ukraine’s critical mineral reserves are valued between $3-26T. But 42% of the country’s metal reserves, 33% of rare earth metals, 63% of coal, 11% of oil, and 20% of natural gas are under Russian control.

To liberate these territories, “American weapons and truly hellish sanctions against the aggressor are needed,” experts say.