A New American Interest: Could 50% of Ukraine’s Minerals Anchor Lasting Peace?

Rare-earth riches in Ukraine could reshape U.S. security policy. Learn why a 50% stake for America might be the key to ending Putler’s war—and fueling new growth in Central Europe.

There have been plenty of developments regarding Ukraine and its peace talks with Russia over the past week. The liberal-left mainstream media, as expected, have portrayed Trump’s approach as total capitulation to Putin and an outright defeat. True to form, their deep-seated animosity toward the “orange man” obscures any real nuance. A high-profile speech by Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference generated anticipation of a major statement on Ukraine, but the Vice President, quite rightly, instead chose to criticize the ideological madness of liberal and leftist governments across Europe—warning how such an approach inevitably leads to weakness, including in the realm of security. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also took the stage in Munich and, apart from one crucial announcement in our view—that Ukraine is actively considering Trump's proposal for rare earth minerals—largely repeated the usual calls for assistance. Effusive gestures and high-profile photo ops have been plentiful from the EU and the Biden administration in recent years, yet none of these guarantee genuine security for Ukraine. A solid, interest-driven bargain may finally offer both Ukraine and Central Europe the peace and security they need.