China, with whom Trump has threatened a trade war, is the world's largest producer of rare earths and many other critical minerals. Trump has also expressed interest in making Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark which also sits on large rare earth deposits, a part of the U.S. since his reelection.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he plans to negotiate an agreement with the Ukrainian authorities that would link American military and financial aid to Ukraine with the supply of rare earth metals “and other things” to the United States.

Ukraine has already emphasized that by supporting its war effort, the U.S. could get access to the country’s wealth of critical minerals like lithium and uranium.