Russia offers U.S. joint looting in Ukraine's occupied territories — former Luhansk official

He shared his opinions with Espreso TV.

“I have spoken extensively with people involved in Ukraine's rare earth metals sector, some of whom are now fighting in the war. There are entrepreneurs engaged in geological exploration and agreements between Ukraine and Western countries for the development of various minerals. According to Forbes, Ukraine's total mineral deposits are valued at over $14 trillion, with the Luhansk region alone accounting for $3.2 trillion. This means Luhansk holds a significant share of these valuable resources,” Haidai explained.

Haidai stressed that Ukraine’s military and political leadership should focus on explaining to the Trump administration that collaborating with Russia on mineral extraction in Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories would amount to looting.

“As for these statements and agreements between the Russian dictator and Trump, this is outright looting. Unfortunately, this issue is not widely discussed in the media, but Russia is essentially inviting the United States to participate in plundering Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories. Therefore, more attention should be given to this matter, and I believe the President of Ukraine’s team must work to ensure the Trump administration understands the truth and calls things by their name,” he added.

• On February 25, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin invited foreign partners, including the United States, to work together in the field of rare earth metals. In particular, he proposed to develop them in the occupied territories of Ukraine. 
• On February 26, NBC News reported that Russia had offered the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump a potential deal under which the United States would receive a certain share of ownership of rare earth minerals and precious metals in the temporarily occupied parts of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.