Are There Rare Earth Minerals in Ukraine?
Laura Lewis, university distinguished and Cabot professor of chemical engineering and mechanical and industrial engineering, who studies critical minerals and their applications, discusses a deal that would give the U.S. a share of Ukraine’s critical raw minerals.
This article originally appeared on Northeastern Global News. It was published by Tanner Stening. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University
‘No credible evidence’ that Ukraine has rare earth minerals, says Northeastern expert
A deal that would give the U.S. a share of Ukraine’s critical raw minerals could set the Eastern European country on a path to peace — but many of the details are still to come.
The proposed agreement would establish a joint “reconstruction investment fund” controlled by the U.S. and Ukraine into which Ukraine would contribute 50% of the revenue from “all relevant government-owned natural resource assets.” President Donald Trump has touted the deal, which does not currently include security guarantees for Ukraine, as a way to recuperate U.S. investments in aid for Ukraine’s war effort against Russia.
Congress had appropriated roughly $174 billion over the last several years intended as aid for Ukraine. Trump initially said he wanted up to $500 billion in potential revenue from the arrangement.
Is the U.S. about to come into a windfall? We spoke to Laura Lewis, a university distinguished professor of chemical and mechanical engineering at Northeastern, who studies critical minerals and their applications.
Her comments have been edited for brevity and clarity.
Read the full story at Northeastern Global News