German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has strongly criticized former US President Donald Trump’s recent suggestion that Washington should demand access to Ukraine’s rare-earth resources in exchange for continued military and economic assistance. Labeling the proposal as “very selfish,” Scholz insisted that Ukraine’s natural wealth should be preserved for its post-war recovery rather than being leveraged as collateral for Western aid.

Speaking on February 3, Trump argued that, given the extensive aid the US has provided to Ukraine-amounting to tens of billions of dollars-it would be reasonable to secure access to Ukraine’s rare-earth minerals in return. The former president emphasized that the US has contributed more to Ukraine’s defense than the European Union, stating:

“We’re looking to do a deal with Ukraine where they’re going to secure what we’re giving them with their rare earth and other things.”

Trump’s remarks sparked an immediate and sharp rebuke from Scholz, who made it clear that Ukraine’s resources should not be exploited for geopolitical bargaining. Speaking after an informal European Union summit in Brussels, the German chancellor stated that the revenue generated from Ukraine’s natural resources must be used exclusively to rebuild the war-torn nation.

“It’s about Ukraine being able to finance its reconstruction,” Scholz stressed. “These are big tasks when you consider the huge destruction. Therefore, the country’s resources should be used to finance everything that is needed after the war.”

Ukraine is home to significant reserves of rare-earth minerals, including lithium, titanium, and graphite, which are critical for high-tech industries, including electronics, batteries, and defense technologies. These minerals have grown increasingly........

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