The President of the USA often confuses the concept, as it turns out, he means not rare earth metals, but "critical minerals."
This was stated on the air of Ukrainian Radio by Vladimir Vlasюк, director of the state enterprise "Ukrpromvneshexpertiza."
"There is some confusion, thanks to Trump, because he uses his own terms in his own understanding. This is what is called a 'big deal.' As a major businessman and politician, Trump thinks in these categories. He wants to exchange his aid for our critical minerals. Not for free, because he counts money; it’s clear he has made a big business. Hence this pragmatic, tough approach," he explained.
According to the expert, critical minerals are elements that are crucial for modern technologies, particularly for the "green transition." The demand for these minerals is rapidly increasing due to their use in the production of batteries and microchips — components essential for the development of renewable energy and digital technologies.
Ukraine has significant reserves of such minerals, which are more accessible than in other regions of the world, such as Central Africa. Vlasюк emphasized that mining these resources in Ukraine does not require large investments in infrastructure development, making these minerals attractive to international partners.
Vlasюк points out that an agreement with the USA could bring substantial economic benefits to Ukraine, particularly through access to the technologies and funding necessary for the efficient extraction and processing of critical minerals.