The Donbass has always conceals important mineral riches, and the modest village of Chevtchenko is no exception. In 1982, during a resource cartography campaign, Soviet geologists discovered a 40 hectare deposit full of lithium, cesium, tantalum, niobium, beryllium and other rare lands. If these minerals then arouse less enthusiasm than coal, a true black gold in the region, lithium today embodies a crucial strategic issue. This site is one of the four Ukrainian deposits rich in this “white gold”, these minerals which have become essential for batteries of electric vehicles and the storage of renewable energies.
For several years, kyiv has been trying to sell online auction the operating rights of several of these deposits. But Chevtchenko, formerly located 60 kilometers from the front line, is now 10 kilometers away. As for the Krouta Balka basin, close to Marioupol, also usable, it has been controlled since 2022 by the Russians.
A transactional approach initiated by kyiv
Ukrainian mineral riches have burst into public debate when Donald Trump, who complains that the United States pours “hundreds of billions of dollars” in the country, offered a market to kyiv on February 5: access to the rare lands against the continuation of American military aid.
If the exact nature of the proposal remains unclear, Ukrainian sources evoke an agreement on all critical materials, whose rare earths constitute a subcategory. Ukraine has in fact contain significant deposits of strategic minerals, including 22 of the 34 materials deemed critical by the European Union. It would hold around 5 % of known world mineral resources, with more than 8,761 deposits of 117 different types of minerals, of which 3,055 are the subject of active exploitation. According to kyiv, these mineral resources represent 11.1 euros of euros, and up to 24.1 billions counting charcoal and natural gas.
Donald Trump’s proposal actually stems from the “victory plan” presented by Zelensky to the Republican candidate in September 2024 during his trip to the United States. This suggestion, as is that of replacing American forces in Europe with European troops, specifically targeted the Republican. A transactional approach that has sufficiently stung the billionaire’s interest in mentioning the rare earths several times during his recent media appearances.
The American president even dispatched the American secretary to Ukraine to the Treasury, Scott Bessent, in order to take stock of the resources in rare land. “We are not only talking about security, but also of money … Precious natural resources in which we can offer our partners investment possibilities who did not exist before … For us, this will create jobs, for businesses American, this will create profits, “Zelensky summed up in an interview with Guardian. The Ukrainian president could discuss it with Donald Trump at the Munich security conference this week, or in the following days in Washington. Time is running out while the American president agreed on Wednesday, February 12, with Vladimir Putin to launch “immediate” negotiations on Ukraine and promised a person in person with his Russian counterpart.
The exact volume of reserves is classified
Volodymyr Zelensky therefore endeavors to “find levers to increase the will of the allies to help Ukraine” and to “present the country as a solution to their problems”, analyzes Natalia Shapoval, vice-president of the Kyiv School of Economics. Trump’s interest in Ukrainian critical materials is explained in particular by current Chinese domination in the rare land market. China controls 70 % of global extraction capacity and 90 % of treatment capacity. Among the measures announced by Beijing in response to American customs tariffs is also the control of exports of certain critical minerals. “kyiv’s logic is as follows: if the United States and Europe were investing more in Ukraine, the support of the partners would increase,” continues Natalia Shapoval.
Difficult, however, to precisely assess the extent of Ukrainian resources. “Cartographies date back mainly in the Soviet era and require an update, an expensive and time-consuming process,” said Olena Pavlenko, president of the Ukrainian Think-Tank Dixi specializing in energy. Unlike current practices (where states finance prospecting before the sale of licenses), Ukraine markets dozens of operating permits without detailed estimate, as for the Chevtchenko lithium deposit.
Ukraine has a quarter of the European proven reserves of this “white gold”, according to the Ukrainian national geological service. However, the exact volumes of lithium, like uranium and titanium, remain classified. Specialists consulted anticipate An upcoming broadcast of this data, while kyiv is moving towards an opening of the market.
Problem: Ukrainian lithium deposits are less profitable than current South American open-air operations because they require underground extraction. “But forecasts show that the supply will no longer be enough to meet global demand. This is where Ukrainian exploitation will make sense. These projects extend over ten years, and the market will have evolved by their Credit “, prognostic Natalia Shapoval.
Russian occupation reserves
In addition to gas, coal, Ukraine already operates several other strategic minerals. The country ranks at Eleventh in the world and at the first on the scale of Europe for the production of uranium, representing 2 to 4 % global reserves. However, extraction is more complex than in other leading countries, according to researcher Olga Kosharna, less concentrated Ukrainian deposits requiring more expensive mining infrastructure.
Titanium is another major historical resource, kyiv exploiting dozens of mines which represent 7 % of world production. With several dozen deposits exploited, Ukraine is also among the first five world countries for graphite reserves, a crucial material for aeronautics. The country also occupies notable positions in Europe for its copper (4th), lead (5th), zinc (6th) and silver (9th).
Between the exploration phase and the necessary investments, the exploitation of these resources could take several years. “Ukraine must develop its own strategic vision for these essential minerals,” said Olena Pavlenko. “If we want to develop Ukrainian aerospace technologies in twenty years, such as planes or satellites, we need an appropriate political framework, otherwise we run the risk of having to buy these materials from other producing countries, and No to Ukrainian sites. “
Main obstacle, a significant part of these critical matters remains under Russian occupation, even if the specific figures remain difficult to establish. According to SecDEVa Canadian reflection group that has been cartography under occupation since February 2022, Russia controls 27 % of Ukrainian iron ore deposits, 50 % of those in manganese, 100 % of strontium reserves, and around 20 % for metals precious.
“The fundamental question is how to guarantee an equitable agreement with the United States,” analyzes Natalia Shapoval. “You must avoid blackmail – either you give mining rights, or we do not bring military aid. Ukraine can fall into this trap if the agreement is rushed.” It remains to be seen what its actual negotiation margins will be against Trump.
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