Give the US 50% ownership of Ukraine’s rare earths in exchange for US investment in Ukraine. US Treasury
Secretary Scott Bessent to Volodymyr Zelensky.
The United States has threatened to cut off Ukraine’s access to Starlink satellite internet terminals if Kyiv does
not reach a deal with the US regarding critical mineral resources, Reuters reported on 21 Feb, citing three
sources familiar with the negotiations.
Undoubtedly, this is modern-day Economic Colonization; an example of Geoeconomics – Nations will
compete for control of valuable natural resources like oil, gas, and rare earth minerals, which can shape their
own geopolitical power.
The United States is particularly interested in Ukraine’s reserves of rare earth minerals which are crucial for
modern electronics, batteries, and other cutting-edge technologies. Some of the key minerals include
tantalum, beryllium, niobium, titanium and lithium. These are extensively used in semiconductors, electric
vehicles, brake on jet aircraft and defence technologies.
Most of the world’s supply and production of rare earth minerals comes from China, which is
increasingly cracking down on exports; unlike others, China has a strong counter to the United States trade
restriction. The US has them (rare earth minerals), but not in the quantities that they need – hence their sinister
plan in Ukraine.
Ukraine has about 5% of the world’s total reserves of critical rare earth materials – largely untapped reserves of
tantalum, beryllium and niobium. Estimated at more than 2.6 billion tons and worth up to $14.5 trillion.
Ukraine initially rejected the offer but behind the scenes arm twisting has continued. Several of Zelensky’s
aides have encouraged him to sign the updated proposal to avoid a further clash.
Now, here is a twist: some 70 % of Ukraine’s trove of the rare earth mineral resources are located in the regions
of Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk and Luhansk – Russia controls most of it. The question is – how will the USA be able
to access the deposits?
The next twist has been shaped by the capture of Russian territory in the Kursk region by Ukrainian forces
which is likely to have a significant impact on the peace talks – now likely to be brokered by the US. The
incursion has disrupted Russia’s ability to dictate the peace terms and has strengthened Ukraine’s (now also by
proxy, the US) position. Ukraine sees it as an opportunity for the return of entire Ukrainian territory occupied by
Russia. Geopolitically, Russia is not in a position of returning any inch of the occupied territory. Therefore ……..
will the US offer to Russia to make East Ukraine (Donbass) territory captured by Russia as ‘Global Territory’ –
like Gaza with the goal of redeveloping Gaza Donbass into a prosperous region.
Sorry that will not be ‘Global Territory’ but ‘Bi- Superpowers Territory’ who will control the mining of rare earth
minerals and share the spoils ……… A very Geoeconomic end to the Ukraine war ……. USA and Russia the
winners and Ukraine and Europe left dazed and bewildered.
Putin would be regretting losing territory in Kursk; problem with loosing territory is – it seeds the ambitions of
others – Putin does lose a fair bit byte bite of bargaining power if Kursk is on the negotiation table. But the scales
appear to be tilting in favour of Trump who has said that both Russia and Ukraine must make concessions.
Grey Zone Warfare is passé; such open threats amounting to an escalation which goes a step beyond the grey
cloak of the Grey Zone Warfare will lead to a modern form of Neo Colonization.
In the lighter vein; as the landscape of conflict evolves, new terminologies and definitions will emerge to
capture the nuances of this form of warfare.

Comments by writers Ex- GOC, Maj Gen Kuldip Sindhu

What’s going on is akin to a bunch of school kids having a spat – pathetic show at intn’l level. Doland is the kid bully on the block, and EM his sidekick. VZ is trying to put up a brave face, but will be knocked down.

Fight was never over Ukr’s independence/democracy – but always abt its granary, biochem research & Rare Earth Minerals in the Mariulpol belt.

Now Doland wants his £ of flesh. REM for $500 bn aid given – figure highly inflated. Let’s hope the US is once again mired on frgn shores; it must be start of the end of Pax Americana👊