The US president will invoke wartime authority to boost the production of rare earths and other important minerals.
US President Donald Trump said his administration would “soon” sign a rare earth contract with Ukraine after evoking wartime power and boosting the production of key minerals.
In a White House speech on Thursday, Trump said his administration has established agreements in “various locations” and has access to rare earth minerals used to manufacture electronics, batteries and magnets, among other items.
“One of the things we do is sign a nearly contract with Ukraine with rare earths, and they have incredible value in rare earths.
Trump made his remarks shortly after signing an executive order directing federal agencies to identify mines and government-owned land that could be exploited to boost the production of critical minerals.
The order evokes the powers included in the Defense Production Act, a Korean War-era law that grants the authority to sweep Washington to mobilize industrial resources in preparation for national security.
The US and Ukraine were scheduled to sign contracts granting access to Washington’s natural resources until last month the official destruction between Trump and Ukrainian President Voldimia Zelenkie derailed last month.
Zelenskyy said earlier this month that his government is “ready to sign” a rare earth contract despite a tense exchange with Trump in the White House, but he hoped to “hear the Ukrainians’ position.”
Trump gave Kiev to give Washington access to natural resources as part of his administration’s efforts to bring a quick end to the war in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy said Wednesday that Kiev agreed to the US proposal to suspend attacks on energy infrastructure the day after Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted the plan.
In his remarks at the White House on Thursday, Trump said his administration’s efforts to reach a peace deal are “going pretty well.”
“So we hope to be able to save thousands of people from death in a week. That’s all,” he said.
“They are very unnecessarily dying.
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