What are Ukraine's critical minerals – and why does Trump want them?

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has rebuffed an initial attempt by the US to corner his country's critical minerals as a downpayment for continued military and economic aid for its war with Russia. Three sources told the Reuters news agency that the US had proposed taking ownership of 50% of Ukraine's critical minerals. Zelenskyy did not dismiss the offer out of hand, but said it did not yet contain the security provisions Kyiv needed. What are critical minerals? Critical minerals are the metals and other raw materials needed for the production of hi-tech products, particularly those associated with the green energy…