The Russian Federation has offered the US access to rare earth metals and other resources in the temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine, particularly in parts of the Donetsk and Zaporizhia regions.
According to NBC, “This would effectively guarantee that Russia will retain parts of the Ukrainian territory it occupies as part of a peace agreement.”
Currently, the administration of US President Donald Trump has not made any commitments regarding an agreement with Russia but has not dismissed such an option, sources emphasized. At the same time, the Kremlin confirmed President Putin’s proposal to cooperate with the US in the extraction of rare earth metals. The Russian Ministry of Natural Resources stated that the country’s total reserves of rare earth metals reportedly amount to 658 million tons, which include 29 types of metals, 15 of which are rare earths.
Putin also highlighted that Russia is prepared to offer the US cooperation not only within its territory but also in the “occupied territories” of Ukraine, specifically in the Donbas.