French defence minister Sébastien Lecornu has confirmed Paris was in talks with Ukraine over access to key raw materials, particularly for military use amid growing international race to tap into the country’s vast mineral wealth.
“We’re not involved in the negotiations between Ukraine and the United States but I can tell you that I have been discussing this matter with my Ukrainian counterpart for France’s own needs,” Lecornu stated on February 27.
According to the minister, these talks have been ongoing since last October, strictly between France and Ukraine, with the European Union as a whole left out of the equation.
“Our defence industry is going to require a steady supply of strategic raw materials for the next 30 to 40 years. Diversifying our sources is essential,” he stressed.
The US-Ukraine mineral agreement was reportedly pushed by US President Donald Trump as compensation for the military and financial aid his country has given to Kyiv over the past three years.
France has taken a different approach.
Lecornu pointed out that, unlike Washington, Paris was “not looking for a refund”, although he acknowledged that “economic issues are closely tied to military and strategic considerations”.
Ukraine’s rare earths and critical minerals have been attracting interest outside Washington and Paris.
EU officials have also been eyeing the country’s resources, with European Commissioner for Industrial Strategy Stéphane Séjourné recently discussing the matter in a meeting with Ukrainian officials.
“Ukraine can supply 21 of the 30 critical materials Europe needs, as part of a mutually beneficial partnership,” Séjourné claimed on February 24, adding that Brussels would “never push for a deal that isn’t fair”.
France’s Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM) has estimated Ukraine held around 20 per cent of the world’s reserves of key minerals.
Ukraine is seen as a major potential supplier of lithium, essential for batteries, and uranium, a resource crucial for the energy and defence industries.
A meeting between US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron has revealed stark differences in their approach to Ukraine amid Trump’s bid for a quick ceasefire deal with Russia. https://t.co/3xHw6IPVW4
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) February 25, 2025
