While Washington and Kiev argue collaboration in the extraction of rare minerals, Moscow comes with its own offer.
Russian President Vladimir Putin claims to be ready to allow Americans and other foreign partners a share of the extraction of strategic raw materials – including those located in the occupied regions of Ukraine.
According to the Russian news agency, this was announced at the beginning of the week by Russian President Vladimir Putin in an interview with journalist Russian state television Pavel Zrubin.
Putin claims that by mutual agreement, both Russia and the United States could be reduced by 50 %.
“Metals of rare earths are a very important part, a very important source for the modern economy industry. And we do not do much in this respect. We should do more, ”said the Russian president.
Moscow is said to be ready to offer Americans cooperation in this sphere.
Talks about Russian and occupied territories
“As far as new (occupied, note) territories, it is the same. We are also ready to cooperate with our partners, including Americans, ”he said. He spoke of Donbas and “Novoruska”, which are the northern regions near the Black Sea.
He also added that Russia is one of the world’s leaders in the reserves of precious soil metals, “we have them in the north, Murmansk and Caucasus, in Kabardino-Balkar and the Far East, the Irkutsk region, in Jakutia and Tuvian”.
Russia and the US could also consider working together in the production of aluminum. “For example, in the Krasnoyarsk region, still in times of the Soviet Union, there were plans for the construction of a new hydroelectric power plant and the creation of other aluminum production facilities,” he said.
If US companies operate in Russia, according to Putin, they will have a “decent profit and the corresponding amounts of aluminum will reach the domestic market at absolutely affordable market prices. Here’s something to think about. “
Trump: Agreement with Ukrainians is close
Putin’s statements come at a time when Washington and Kiev negotiate an agreement on the accession of the United States to Ukrainian rare minerals.
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the agreement is “very close”. This or next week he could meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for its signature.
However, according to several foreign sources, the White House applied for an appointment.
He declared this to the margins of negotiations with French President Emmanuel Macron in the White House, which was devoted primarily to prospects for the end of the war in Ukraine.
“We are not concerned,” said Tass Putin, referring to this agreement. The Kremlin chief further in an interview Petokol that Russia is one of the leaders in the supplies of the metals of rare soils.
About peaceful units
Two sources from Reuters informed the situation previously informed that the Trump meeting with Green can be on Friday.
Trump also said that after the end of the fighting it is necessary to deploy peace troops in Ukraine, TASR writes.
AFP sources on Tuesday evening reported that Ukraine approved the conditions of the mineral agreement. Washington and Kiev would together benefit from the mineral wealth of Ukraine, while revenue would be directed to the newly created fund that would be “common to Ukraine and the United States”.
Kiev rejected the original version of the agreement, saying that it does not contain any security guarantees. The AFP source specified that the draft agreement contains a reference to “security”, but it does not specifically specify the role of the US.
The US President also noted that in the event of an agreement to terminate the conflict, there is a need for peace troops to operate in Ukraine.
However, Reuters recalls that Moscow refused any NATO units in Ukraine.
