Hey there! Have you ever wondered what goes into making your smartphone or your favorite electric scooter? 🤔 It’s all about special minerals called rare earth elements, and they might be at the center of a big international deal!
Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump said that the United States is getting very close to agreeing on a deal with Ukraine, a country in Eastern Europe. This deal is about sharing the profits from Ukraine’s rare earth minerals and other natural resources.
But wait, what are rare earth minerals? They are special metals like graphite, uranium, titanium, and lithium. These elements are super important because they are used in all kinds of cool technology we use every day, like cellphones, laptops, and even electric cars! 🚗🔋
So, why is this deal important? Well, the United States wants to have more of these minerals so they don’t have to buy as much from other countries. Getting them from Ukraine might help the U.S. make more tech products at home.
However, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, isn’t totally happy with the deal. Sources say that he doesn’t agree with giving up 50% of Ukraine’s minerals to the U.S. He believes that Ukraine should get more security promises in return.
There’s also talk that the U.S. wants this deal to help reduce their need to buy these minerals from China. China currently supplies a lot of rare earth minerals to the world.
Professor Cui Zheng from Liaoning University explained that China is a big player in the rare earth market. She said that because China sends out less of these minerals now, countries like the U.S. are worried they won’t have enough for their tech and defense industries.
So, what happens next? Both countries are still talking and trying to make an agreement that works for both sides. It’s like when you and your friend are trading game cards—you both want to make sure you’re getting a good deal! 😄
We’ll have to wait and see if they can come up with a plan that makes everyone happy. Stay tuned!
Reference(s):
Trump says close to minerals deal with Ukraine. Will Zelenskyy accept?
cgtn.com
