US and Ukraine Negotiate Rare Mineral Agreement Amid Security Concerns

The United States and Ukraine are in negotiations regarding a rare mineral agreement. The details of the agreement remain largely unreleased, but discussions are ongoing in Washington. Initial demands from the U.S. included compensation for aid provided since the Russian invasion in February 2022. Ukraine possesses significant resources of graphite and lithium, and rare earth metals are known to exist in several deposits. Ukraine seeks long-term security guarantees as part of any deal, potentially linked to access to its natural resources.