President Trump has indicated he is open to supplying Ukraine with more weapons in exchange for access to the country’s mineral resources. Ukraine is on board, but putting the plan into practice might not be so easy as many of the minerals of interest are in areas under Russian occupation or threatened by Moscow’s advance. As a result, access to valuable Ukrainian natural resources will depend, at least in part, on the battle for eastern Ukraine. That’s especially true for rare earths, a collection of minerals that have become essential in certain high-tech industries, including defense and renewable energy. 

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