The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, stated on Saturday that his country is willing to share its resources with its allies. His statement came after former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that access to Ukrainian raw materials could be a condition for military support. Additionally, Zelensky emphasized that his meeting with Trump should take place before any meeting between the former U.S. president and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“This is not just about how to end the war, but about ensuring lasting security, strengthening economic cooperation, and establishing Ukraine as a key strategic partner of the United States,” he wrote on X.
In a thread on the social media platform, Zelensky stressed that one of Russia’s goals in this war is to seize Ukraine’s abundant natural resources, which are essential for producing modern weaponry, including missiles and drones.
“If we don’t act now, these resources will not only be used against Ukraine but could eventually be used against the United States and Europe,” he warned.
The Ukrainian leader detailed that the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions hold vast reserves of rare earth minerals, while Dnipropetrovsk contains enormous iron ore deposits. Additionally, central Ukraine has the largest titanium reserves in Europe. He also highlighted that the country possesses the continent’s largest uranium reserves.
“I have told our American partners: invest in Ukraine. Bring your companies. Let’s work together to develop these resources,” he stated.
Zelensky also mentioned Ukraine’s capacity to generate nuclear energy and its coal industry, particularly anthracite, which is found in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, partially occupied by Russia.
Furthermore, he emphasized that Ukraine is ready to become a key hub for importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States to Europe, thanks to its vast deposits and existing gas pipeline infrastructure.
“We are in contact with President Trump’s team, and they fully support Ukraine’s interest in LNG. This is not just about gas; it’s about reducing Europe’s dependence on Russian energy. Some European countries still buy Russian gas due to previous ties and political pressure,” he noted.
The Ukrainian president also highlighted that rebuilding the country after the war will present a major economic opportunity for American businesses.
Finally, Zelensky insisted that meeting with Trump before he meets with Putin is “essential.” Otherwise, he warned, decisions about Ukraine’s future could be made without Ukrainian involvement.
“Any real negotiations must start with Ukraine and its allies aligning their positions first. Only after that can there be talks with the aggressor,” he asserted.
Additionally, he said that a visit from Trump to Kyiv would be a “significant and necessary step” in this process.
For his part, Trump stated from the Oval Office, after a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, that he will “probably” meet with Zelensky next week and will also hold talks with Putin. “I would like this war to end,” he said.
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