Zelenskyy: Ukraine’s Rare Earth Minerals Must Not Fall Into Russian Hands

Ukraine must defend not only its territories from Russian occupation but also its valuable natural resources, particularly rare earth minerals, to prevent them from falling into Russian hands without cost.

Russia is already exploiting Ukraine’s natural wealth in occupied territories without investment, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized this in an interview with The Guardian on February 12.

“I believe this should be mutually beneficial. What is happening now is not. Putin is seizing our territories and simply gaining access to invaluable natural resources in the temporarily occupied areas for free. We know how they destroyed extraction and processing capabilities, dismantled entire factories, and flooded mines. This is an environmental disaster, but, above all, it is something that belongs to the Ukrainian people,” Zelenskyy stated.

He emphasized that safeguarding Ukraine’s land is crucial, as central regions hold significant reserves of valuable minerals, including titanium, uranium, and manganese.

“For example, in the Crimean direction, we still have areas under our control with gas and oil production, but we also have a continental shelf in the Black Sea, which is currently occupied. This is money, this is our land, and it represents significant financial resources. Today, it is under occupation. This is very costly for us,” he said.

Zelenskyy underlined that Ukraine’s defense efforts not only protect its sovereignty but also secure opportunities for international investment in mineral extraction and processing. He pointed out that this sector presents advantages for both Ukraine and global companies, including American firms.

“We have started to showcase what we have—without classified sites, but with serious potential. For example, in uranium and titanium, we are among the largest in Europe. It is important to protect these resources so they do not end up free for the Russians or others they might trade with—whether Iran, North Korea, or China. We are not willing to simply give them away,” he said.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump claimed that Ukraine had agreed to grant the US access to rare earth minerals worth $500 billion. Speaking to Fox News on February 10, he described Ukraine as having “extremely valuable land,” citing its oil and gas deposits.

Trump also emphasized Washington’s financial support for Kyiv and suggested uncertainty over Ukraine’s resources, hinting they could fall under Russian control. “I want that money to be protected,” he said, adding that he directly asked for the equivalent of $500 billion in rare earth resources and that Ukraine “basically agreed.” However, neither Ukrainian nor US authorities have confirmed this claim.