Nigeria: Russia open to economic cooperation with US on rare earth minerals, energy
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria
Russia has expressed its willingness to cooperate with the US on economic matters, particularly on energy and mining rare earth minerals.
This development comes after US President Donald Trump stated that he was in serious discussions with Russia to end the war with Ukraine and explore economic development deals, including accessing Russia’s massive rare earth deposits.
Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that his country is ready to work with American companies to mine rare earth mineral deposits in Russia and parts of Russian-occupied Ukraine. Putin’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, also stated that Russia is open to economic cooperation with the US, with the first stage focusing on energy.
In exchange for lifting sanctions on Russian metals, Putin offered to sell approximately 2 million tons of aluminum to the US market. The Russian president also praised Trump’s approach to Russia and Ukraine, describing it as “based not so much on emotions as on cold calculation, on a rational approach to the current situation”.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has expressed concerns about the potential deal, seeking security guarantees from the US in exchange for access to its mineral resources. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that he may be forced to sign an economic agreement with the US.
The development has sparked concerns among European leaders, who are scrambling to respond to the potential shift in US policy. French President Emmanuel Macron has warned against a “weak” agreement, while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has emphasized the importance of involving Ukraine in any negotiations.
