Trump seeks rare earth metals in exchange for assistance: How many are there in Ukraine and what types are available?

In Ukraine, nearly all rare earth metals can be found, but there are certain nuances involved in their extraction.

https://news.telegraf.com.ua/ukraina/2025-02-04/5896621-tramp-khoche-ridkisnozemelni-metali-v-obmin-na-dopomogu-skilki-ikh-vzagali-v-ukraini-ta-yakikh2025-02-04 08:00:29

US President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to establish rare earth metal (REM) supplies from Ukraine in exchange for continued assistance. It is important to note that Ukraine possesses significant reserves of these materials, although some deposits are currently located in occupied territories.

"Telegraph" will explain what these materials are and why Washington is interested in them. It is worth mentioning that approximately 5% of the world's so-called "critical raw materials," valued at around 12 trillion dollars, can be found in our country. This includes various rare materials such as lithium and titanium, which, however, are not classified as rare earth elements.

Rare earth metals include scandium, yttrium, and all lanthanides (lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium). They are named for their occurrence in nature as oxides and their low concentration scattered throughout the rock. Additionally, due to their similarities, they are quite challenging to purify and separate.

These metals possess unique magnetic, luminescent, and catalytic properties, making them indispensable in high-tech industries, including electronics, batteries, magnets, lasers, and modern military equipment.

The prices of these metals fluctuate significantly based on demand and the type of metal. For instance, cerium can cost between 5 to 10 dollars per kilogram, while lutetium can reach up to 10,000 dollars per kilogram. Furthermore, around 60% of all REM reserves are controlled by China, making the market dependent on it.

In Ukraine, many deposits remain in occupied territories, and as of 2022, it was reported that control over approximately 33% of REM reserves had been lost. However, among the regions under control, they are known to be found in:

Kirovohrad region (Dobrovelychkivka deposit):
Dnipropetrovsk region (Zholti Vody, Mazurovka, Safonivka):
Zhytomyr region (Malynivske deposit).

There are also known REM deposits in Transcarpathia, but assessing their quantity requires further exploration. It is important to note that information about REM volumes is not always made public and is typically classified.

Additionally, many deposits remain underexplored as they have not been specifically targeted, primarily being by-products of lithium, titanium, or some other metal extraction. Interest in their extraction has only emerged in recent years.

It is worth mentioning that the topic of rare earth metal supplies was discussed last year when President Volodymyr Zelensky met with then-presidential candidate Trump and presented him with the "Victory Plan."

Reports indicated that Trump was particularly interested in resource extraction options in Ukraine and the use of Ukrainian troops to ensure security in Europe instead of American soldiers.