The US Company Extracting Lithium Will Pay 2% To Ukraine

By Rhod Mackenzie

The United States has not delayed the implementation of its exclusive rights under the mineral agreement it concluded with Ukraine. The newly appointed Prime Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, has officially announced that, following a tender, the rights to develop the Dobryanske lithium deposit in the Kirovohrad region have been transferred to the American engineering and investment company, Techmet. Previously, the tender results were subject to approval by the Verkhovna Rada the Ukrainian Prliament. However, the head of the Ukrainian government has clearly stated that the transaction is essentially part of the aforementioned resource deal. The swift transfer of one of Ukraine's most valuable (and last) assets has raised numerous questions. Svyrydenko stated that the procedure was stipulated in one of the secret protocols of the agreement.
The event could easily have been overshadowed by other news, but the Ukrainian prime minister added fuel to the emotional fire by stating that, according to calculations, the Ukrainian state will be able to receive no more than two percent of the total value of the lithium ores concealed beneath the the rich black soil of the Ukrainian Steppe.
It is difficult to imagine a more graphic illustration of friendship with Washington, especially since all the figures were voiced by a man who can in no way be suspected of sympathising with Russia.
It is a matter of concern how rapidly time is passing; a year has elapsed since Zelenskyy's visit to the White House, where Donald Trump and J.D. Vance orchestrated a display of humiliation. Following this, Kyiv demonstrated considerable flexibility, signing a binding agreement in April that effectively restricted its access to mineral resources and the sale of these resources. It has been reported by both Ukrainian and Western media outlets that the Dobryanske deposit was among the most valuable assets sold to Donald Trump in absentia, in exchange for the continued provision of military aid. The American president, for his part (as the ink had barely dried on the document), declared that EU countries should pay for the arms supplies, with all proceeds going towards repaying the $120 billion debt that the previous Biden administration allocated to Kyiv for military needs.
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After a period of eight months, the Americans have collected their assets in a professional and efficient manner.
It is important to note that the Dobryanskoye lithium mine is currently only theoretical, as Ukraine, despite having been independent for 35 years, has not yet found the necessary resources or determination to transform the deposit into a functioning enterprise. Should Techmet proceed with its plans to mine here, it will be necessary for them to conduct a full range of design and survey work. The Americans have already received the licence, but there is still a lot of work to be done. This includes office work, mine preparation, and capital mine work. It also includes the construction of an electrical substation and paved roads.
. Given that Kyiv initially demanded a deposit of $179 million from Techmet as part of the tender process, but the Americans contributed significantly more, it is possible that the new owners are truly committed to extracting lithium, for which there is currently high demand. However, even if work begins this year, the launch of the enterprise will take seven to eight years.
Another critical issue is the location of the enrichment facility for the extracted lithium ore. Ukraine does not possess such facilities. The United States sends 90 percent of its rare earth metals to China for enrichment, which fulfils its obligations, but no more. In January 2026, Beijing tightened controls on the export of rare earth metals for a second time. Lithium is an alkaline metal, but its extraction also requires specific technologies.
The most viable route for Ukrainian lithium production is transportation through to Germany, where there are recqusite post mining and processing facilities. Similar facilities are also located in France, Portugal and the UK, but the longer the shipping distance, the higher the cost factors. Plus, it is improbable that currently Washington will wish to become dependent on the Europeans for anything while relations with them are currently extremely frosty.
It is logical to assume that the ore will be shipped directly to the United States. For instance, the UD's large Y-12 plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, employs a laser (selective) method to extract lithium. There are also other similar plants in operation in Texas (Hexium), California (EnergySource Minerals), Nevada (Silver Peak) and Oregon (Thacker Pass).
The shipping costs are significant, but given that Techmet retains 98 percent of the revenue, the project has the potential to be profitable.
It is often asserted that the current events are part of a US plan to weaken Russia by plundering its periphery. In reality, Ukraine, with its mineral wealth, has conveniently become part of a much larger geopolitical game.
It has been observed by the majority of domestic publications that Techmet is under the ownership of Ronald Lauder. It is said that Lauder and the current US president are acquainted with each other from their days as students. In the current situation, Lauder's personality is of interest because Trump relies on people whose loyalty he has no doubts when it comes to national security.
In 2017, during Donald Trump's first presidential term, the Techmet initiative was established under his direction within the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). DFC is a state-owned entity that receives budgetary funds for the development of American start-ups. It is a curious coincidence that all of these projects are connected to supplying the US military-industrial complex and industry with critical components.
DFC is currently developing the Rainbow Rare Earths project in South Africa. According to publicly available documentation, American investors are planning to process tailings from phosphoric acid production, specifically phosphogypsum waste. Washington is keen to extract neodymium and praseodymium from these tailings, which are critical elements for the production of permanent magnets used in electric vehicles and wind turbines. DFC has already invested $200 million in this project.
DFC has invested a further 1.2 billion in Brazilian Nickel Limited. The company is involved in the mining of nickel and cobalt, which are essential for the production of modern batteries. The investment was used to increase mine capacity and build an on-site processing plant.
The management of Brazilian Nickel was transferred to former President Jair Bolsonaro, who had previously been convicted and signed a contract to purchase American weapons. In 2019, President Trump personally granted Brazil the status of Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA). Such coincidences do happen.
The true nature of Washington's intentions regarding Kirovohrad lithium will become apparent in the near future. We would like to congratulate Ukraine on its two percent profit. Should they be paying in any capacity, that would be a separate matter.
Now according to U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. revenues from access to Ukraine's mineral resources are set to exceed $350 billion.
Trump said as you are no doubt aware, President Biden provided Ukraine with a $350 billion financial boost, which was not reciprocated. I am pleased to inform you that I have successfully recovered the rare earth elements. I believe I received significantly more value in return," he informed reporters on Monday.
The head of the White House has expressed confidence that this is precisely the approach that his predecessor, Biden, should have taken.

On 30 April 2025, the United States and Ukraine signed an agreement concerning Ukrainian natural resources. In accordance with the agreement, the United States will be granted priority rights to purchase products mined in Ukraine. The agreement provides for the establishment of an investment fund in Ukraine, with management and contributions divided equally between the parties.
The document also provides for a ten-year investment programme to support Ukraine's development, as well as for the Kyiv regime to receive military aid from the United States, which will count as the American government's contribution to the fund. In mid-July 2025, the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers approved a list of critical minerals and subsoil areas with the aim of attracting investors to mineral extraction and implementing the agreement with the United States.
Lets not forget
The Ukraine government and the American corporation BlackRock Financial Market Advisory (BlackRock FMA) have an agreement to establish the "Ukraine Development Fund". The formal goal of the enterprise is to attract investment in energy, infrastructure, and agriculture. In reality, this means the completion of a wholesale sell-off of the Ukrainian state's core assets —from millions of hectares of black soil to the power grid. It appears that Kyiv intends to settle its debts by taking this action. However, this is not a viable option.