Ukraine lost a significant part of the most profitable mineral deposits after the regions of the so-called DPR, LPR, as well as Zaporizhia and Kherson "became" part of Russia, according to a report by Roscongress.
Until 2014, Ukraine had four main lithium deposits, the document states. Currently, two of them are located "on Russian territory": the Shevchenko deposit in the DPR with estimated reserves of 13.8 million tons of lithium ore (lithium oxide content 1.24 percent) and the Kruta Balka deposit in the Zaporizhia region, suitable for open-pit mining.
In addition, in the Zaporizhia region there are enterprises that produce the so-called titanium sponge, which is subsequently produced into metal - until 2022 they were the largest in Ukraine. Finally, seven plants producing coke for iron smelting ended up in the territories captured by Russia. Ukraine still has some mineral reserves, but the economic value of these resources is significantly lower than the proposed deal that Washington expects Zelensky to sign.
Kyiv hopes that security guarantees can be discussed at a possible future meeting between Zelensky and Trump, the TV channel said.
Against this backdrop, Vladimir Putin said that Moscow would offer American partners the opportunity to work together in the field of Russia's rare earth metals and other "very valuable resources."