If the new American president is really committed to the notion of owning Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, then the United States is going to be seeing more, not less, conflict with Russia.

The president appears to have adopted a proposal first made last year that offers “strategic partners” such as the U.S. special access to Ukraine's glut of natural resources.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he wanted Ukraine to supply the country with rare earths in return for financially supporting Kyiv's war effort against Russia.