France is also seeking access to Ukraine's deposits of critical minerals, with negotiations already under way for months, the French defence minister said on Thursday, indicating that the US is not the only player. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to sign a minerals deal with the US at the White House on Friday. President Donald Trump made the announcement on Wednesday.
But France, too, is in discussions with Ukraine - aiming, like the United States, to diversify its supplies of vital minerals, French defence minister Sebastien Lecornu told broadcaster France Info. He did not specify exactly which minerals France is seeking.
Ukraine has been offering to supply the US with rare earth elements that are critical for various technologies, including lithium for batteries and uranium for nuclear power, medical equipment and weapons. Mr Lecornu said: "We are speaking about this issue for our own French needs. I have defence industries that will need access to a certain number of raw materials in the years to come.".
He said French President Emmanuel Macron mandated him to begin the discussions and that he has been dealing directly with his Ukrainian counterpart as part of efforts to increase the number of source countries for rare minerals. "We have to diversify that. Emmanuel Macron has asked that I also start discussions with the Ukrainians... I have been doing so since October," the minister said.
He said France could possibly purchase minerals from Ukraine and is not seeking access to them as a way to recoup the billions of euros worth of military and other aid that Paris has supplied to strengthen Ukrainian defences against Russia's invasion.
Mr Trump has framed the emerging deal as a chance for Kyiv to repay aid already sent under Democratic president Joe Biden. "We are not looking for payback," Mr Lecornu said. "But our defence sector will need a certain number of raw materials that are absolutely crucial in our own weapons systems... for the next 30 or 40 years.".
