Putin’s Chilling Ambition Behind Ukraine’s 52-Trillion Mineral Dispute—Trump vs. Zelensky Clash

On March 3, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a temporary suspension of military aid to Ukraine.

For Ukraine, which has been at war with Russia for more than three years, the U.S., which has provided military aid totaling approximately 10 trillion yen, is the world’s largest donor. The fact that this aid will be cut off is a matter of life and death for Ukraine.

What triggered this was a major argument between Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky that took place at the White House on February 28. The following is an unprecedentedly heated exchange between the two leaders that was reported around the world.

Trump: “You’re not in a good position. You don’t have any cards.”

Zelensky: “We are not playing a card game, Mr. President!”

Trump: “You’re gambling with the lives of millions. It’s a gamble on whether World War III will happen. That’s disrespectful to the U.S., which is providing support!”

“They won’t endure this any longer!”

Due to the breakdown between the two leaders, the planned joint press conference and the signing of an agreement on mineral resources were both canceled. Trump’s anger remained unabated.

On March 2, following a European summit, Zelensky stated, “An agreement to end the war is still far off.” In response, Trump lashed out on his social media:

“This is the worst statement Zelensky has ever made. The U.S. won’t tolerate this any longer!”

The suspension of aid to Ukraine, as mentioned earlier, was likely influenced by Trump’s stance.

There is one country watching the rift between the U.S. and Ukraine with satisfaction—Russia.

On March 3, Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov criticized Zelensky, stating, “He has demonstrated his incompetence in diplomacy.”

At the same time, he praised Trump:

“(Trump) is rapidly shifting his foreign policy toward peace. His vision largely aligns with ours.”

The revival of great Russia

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke in an interview with state television, stating:

“We are ready to cooperate with the U.S. on the ‘New Territories’ project (referring to the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia). We are prepared to offer mineral resources as a gift.”

Trump has long demanded that Ukraine provide mineral resources in exchange for U.S. aid. Putin’s remark could be interpreted as a split-the-loot statement. According to The Guardian, Ukraine holds one-fifth of the world’s graphite reserves, a crucial material for electric vehicles, and 7% of the world’s titanium, essential for aircraft manufacturing. The mineral resources in Russian-occupied areas alone are valued at approximately 52 trillion yen.

By using these minerals as bait, Putin is attempting to draw the U.S. closer. But what is his true objective?

Tsukuba University Professor Emeritus Itsuro Nakamura, an expert on Eastern European affairs, explains:

“For Trump, who wants Ukraine’s minerals, and Putin, who wants to use them as a bargaining chip, Zelensky is nothing but an obstacle. They share a common nuisance. While Putin speaks of peace, he likely has no genuine intention of achieving it. What he truly envisions amid the ‘Trump vs. Zelensky confrontation’ is the full annexation of Ukraine.

Historically, Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire. Putin aims to secure economic support from the U.S., expand the front lines, reclaim Ukraine as part of Russia, and restore a ‘Great Russia,’ elevating himself to an almost imperial status. Ukraine may find itself even more at the mercy of the geopolitical interests of the two superpowers, the U.S. and Russia.”

As Zelensky faces mounting pressure, Trump openly expresses dissatisfaction with him, while Putin extends an olive branch to the U.S. The complex interplay of these three leaders’ ambitions is likely to further deepen the turmoil surrounding Ukraine.