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France reveals mineral negotiations with Ukraine since October

French Defense Minister Lecornu says the talks focus on securing critical raw materials for France’s defense industry needs over the next 30-40 years.
byYuri Zoria
27/02/2025
2 minute read
French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu
French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu. Credit: Midi Libre
France reveals mineral negotiations with Ukraine since October

France has been in talks with Ukraine since October 2024 about exploiting Ukrainian minerals for its defense industry, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on 27 February.

The announcement comes as US President Donald Trump pushes for Ukraine-Russia peace talks while demanding Kyiv sign a colonial-style deal, granting Washington access to Ukraine’s vast mineral resources – allegedly as compensation for past US aid provided before Trump took office. Currently, Kyiv and Washington approach an agreement on the exploitation of Ukraine’s mineral resources. The Ukrainian President hopes to visit Washington on 28 February to discuss this agreement and learn more about the continuity of American aid amid Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking on France Info, Lecornu explained that France has been working on this issue for several months, since “last autumn” when Zelenskyy, during a visit to Paris, “included the question of raw materials in his victory plan.” According to the minister, the Ukrainian president made “a number of proposals not only to the United States, but also to France.”

“Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his team saw that this question of raw materials could be one of the transactional elements with us, to create endurance. So President Trump didn’t completely invent it because the Ukrainians themselves did it,” Lecornu said.

European Commission refutes Politico report on new minerals deal offer for Ukraine

The minister confirmed these minerals will be used to produce military equipment.

“Our defense industry will need a number of completely key raw materials in our own weapons systems, not for next year, but for the next 30 or 40 years,” Lecornu estimated, adding that France wishes to “diversify” its imports of such minerals, saying, “This is what Emmanuel Macron asked me to do.”

Lecornu said he’s been in discussions with Ukrainians since “last October,” at the “French level.”

Ukraine holds about 5% of the world’s mineral resources, though not all are exploited or easily exploitable. It ranks 40th among mineral-producing nations, including coal, per the 2024 World Mining Data. A 2023 study by France’s Bureau of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM) identified over 100 resources, including manganese, uranium, and graphite – critical for electric batteries.

trump administration seek simplified minerals deal ukraine telegraph ukrainian critical raw materials considering expedite agreement following president volodymyr zelenskyy's rejection detailed proposal last week two sources familiar matter told 20
Infographic: The Telegraph

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