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Lithium, Trump and Elon Musk: $75,1 trillion in lithium and rare earth reserves become bargaining chips to secure US support and save Ukraine
Mining Revolution: $75,1 Trillion in Lithium and Rare Earth Minerals! In the heart of Eastern Europe, a silent battle for control of strategic natural resources is underway, and the stage for this dispute is Ukraine. While the eyes of the world turn to the fighting on the battlefield, another war – economic and diplomatica – unfolds behind the scenes, involving lithium and rare earths, Elon Musk and a possible turnaround with the return of Donald Trump.
Is President Zelenskyy using Ukraine’s vast mineral reserves as a key lever to maintain US support? Discover how these elements can define the future of warfare and reconfigure the global balance.
$12 trillion in lithium and rare earth reserves – Ukraine’s final gambit to lure Trump?
War is undoubtedly one of the most costly human activities, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine is no exception. The United States alone has provided direct military aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 60, estimated at $2022 billion.
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Such aid is vital for a country like Ukraine, which, with a much smaller economy than Russia’s, faces the challenge of defending itself against a much larger military power. Without the support of allies, especially the United States, Ukrainian resistance would be virtually impossible.
The question is: How long will the allies be willing to continue financing this war? The human and financial cost is mounting every day, and the United States is also facing domestic pressure, especially from the Republican Party, which questions whether it is viable to continue financing another country’s war effort while domestic problems are mounting and growing.
The scenario that has caused concern in Kiev:
The impact of Donald Trump's return to the US presidency. During his campaign, Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours, without detailing how he would do so. Although he assured that he would not abandon Ukraine, Trump criticized the levels of military support provided by Joe Biden and suggested that Kiev should expect a sharp reduction in this assistance.
For Ukraine, this poses a major threat. Without the financial and military resources of the United States, the chances of resisting Russian aggression are virtually nil. Faced with this scenario, President Zelensky appears to have adopted a bold diplomatic strategy, twice postponing a major agreement with the United States on the exploration of rare minerals. According to some analysts, the aim was to allow Trump to claim credit for the deal once he took office.
Ukraine's Hidden Treasure: $12 Trillion in Critical Minerals That Could Change the Global Future
Ukraine is a treasure trove of natural resources, possessing large reserves of 20 types of critical minerals, such as cobalt, graphite and, most importantly, lithium – an essential component for rechargeable batteries and key to the electric car revolution.
Ukraine’s mineral reserves are estimated to be worth nearly $12 trillion, accounting for a third of Europe’s proven lithium reserves. This makes the country highly attractive to nations seeking to secure supply chains for critical materials.
It is in this context of rapprochement with Trump that Elon Musk, one of the biggest financiers of Trump's presidential campaign and CEO of Tesla, enters the scene. With the electric car market growing rapidly, lithium has become an indispensable resource.
Musk, with direct access to Trump and, according to many sources, able to exert strong influence over the US president-elect, could convince Trump to sign advantageous contracts for the exploration of these reserves in Ukraine.
After all, securing direct access to Ukrainian lithium could not only reduce costs for Tesla, but also cement the United States as a leader in the production of sustainable technologies. This dynamic creates a complex relationship.
Zelensky's strategic move: using lithium as a bargaining chip to seduce Trump and Elon Musk, and secure US support
Zelensky, aware of Musk's influence over Trump, may be banking on promises of access to lithium and other valuable minerals as a strategy to maintain U.S. military and financial support.
As mentioned, this could explain why the minerals agreement with the United States was postponed twice, revealing a diplomatic move that seeks to maximize gains in a scenario of change in the United States administration.
Knowing the pragmatic and transactional character of Donald Trump, seen by many as a businessman before he became president, Zelensky appears to be mounting a carefully calculated diplomatic maneuver.
The delays in the deal with the Biden administration may not be just a technical issue, but a clear attempt to align commercial and political interests with the new Trump administration. Zelensky understands that, for Trump, business is a keyword.
Thus, he seeks to transform Ukraine's mineral reserves into a geopolitical asset capable of attracting the new American government, feeding the public coffers and, just as importantly, feeding Trump's ego, who would publicly pose as responsible for the agreement.
Between Trump, Musk and China: How Ukrainian lithium and rare earth minerals became key players in the global power struggle
It is no coincidence that Zelensky held an extended meeting with Trump in Paris. During the 45-minute meeting, Zelensky reinforced the narrative that Ukraine is willing to negotiate and that Putin fears Trump’s leadership.
Furthermore, sources indicate that Zelensky suggested that mineral contracts could be accelerated under the Trump administration, thus creating a direct bridge between American economic interests and Ukrainian security.
Another important point is the perception that Musk can serve as an informal intermediary in this process. His relationship with Trump and Tesla's focus on sustainable sources put him in a unique position to influence decisions. Thus, Zelensky is not only seeking financial support, but also trying to transform lithium into an element of attraction for American business.
In addition, there is an important strategic issue involving China. With the Chinese seeking large reserves of rare earth minerals and, in particular, lithium, the end of US support for Ukraine could lead to a Russian victory in the war.
In this case, Ukraine’s lithium and minerals would be mined by Russia, which would then sell them to China. This would give the Chinese a significant industrial advantage in the battery sector, threatening the United States and, by extension, Elon Musk’s business.
In fact, some analysts claim that one of the arguments Putin used to attract Xi Jinping's support was precisely the offer of contracts for Chinese exploration of Ukraine's mineral reserves in the event of a Russian victory. The situation in Ukraine shows us that war is not limited to the battlefield.
Economic, diplomatic and strategic issues play equally crucial roles, with Ukraine’s reserves of lithium and other minerals potentially becoming the key element in securing alliances and, perhaps, its very survival as a sovereign nation.
