Overview

• The U.S. and Ukraine have signed a preliminary agreement to jointly develop Ukraine's critical minerals, including titanium, lithium, and graphite, through a Reconstruction Investment Fund.
• Experts highlight that Ukraine's rare earth mineral deposits remain largely unverified, with outdated Soviet-era surveys providing limited evidence of their potential value.
• The lack of U.S. security guarantees in the agreement raises concerns about the feasibility of attracting long-term investment in Ukraine's mining sector during ongoing conflict with Russia.
• Developing Ukraine's mineral resources is expected to require significant capital investment, with timelines for production stretching up to a decade or more.
• Industry analysts emphasize that while Ukraine has deposits of critical minerals, its mining infrastructure and energy systems have been severely impacted by the war, complicating extraction efforts.