Sun Mar 02 14:00:00 UTC 2025: ## France Joins US in Pursuit of Ukrainian Critical Minerals
**PARIS** – France has joined the United States in seeking access to Ukraine’s critical mineral deposits, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced Thursday. While the U.S. is expected to finalize a deal with Ukraine on Friday for the supply of rare earth elements, France has been in negotiations for months to secure its own supply of vital minerals for its defense industry.
Lecornu confirmed that discussions with Ukrainian officials, initiated in October at the behest of President Emmanuel Macron, are ongoing. He emphasized that the aim is to diversify France’s sources of these minerals, crucial for weapons systems and other technologies over the next several decades. The minister specifically stated that the initiative is not intended as recompense for the substantial military and humanitarian aid France has provided to Ukraine. He declined to specify which minerals France is targeting, though Ukraine has been offering the U.S. lithium, uranium, and other rare earth elements. Lecornu described the negotiations as being in their early stages.
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