U.S. seeks Ukrainian minerals using Zaporizhzhia plant

The U.S. is seeking access to valuable minerals in Ukraine, which require a lot of energy to process. A key site is the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, now under Russian control. The plant could provide the necessary energy for processing these minerals. After being quiet about the Zaporizhzhia plant for some time, President Trump mentioned it in relation to a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. While he did not directly name the plant, hints from his administration suggest it is significant to recent negotiations between the U.S. and Ukraine. According to Ukrainian officials, the discussions focus on critical minerals like lithium and titanium. These minerals are essential for modern technology manufacturing. Ukraine has indicated that processing these minerals would only be feasible if it regained control of the Zaporizhzhia plant. Talks between Kyiv and Washington on this subject have been ongoing for weeks. The potential agreement is seen as a way to strengthen U.S.-Ukraine relations while addressing energy needs for mineral processing.