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 United States isn’t the only player.
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Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky is expected on Friday at the White House to sign a minerals deal with the United States. 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 Sébastien 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.
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.